At least nine people, including journalists and aid workers, were killed on Saturday in an Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza, according to the region’s civil defense agency. The attack, which targeted a vehicle in Beit Lahia, also involved artillery shelling in the same area.
Palestinian Authorities Condemn Attack
Spokesperson for Gaza’s civil defense, Mahmoud Bassal, confirmed that the victims had been transferred to a hospital. The Hamas-run Health Ministry also reported several critically injured individuals at the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza, describing the incident as part of an ongoing Israeli offensive.
Hamas strongly condemned the airstrike, calling it a “blatant violation” of the fragile ceasefire agreement in place since January 19. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem accused Israel of deliberately targeting journalists and humanitarian workers in what he called a “horrific massacre.”
Israel Justifies Airstrike
In response, the Israeli military stated that the attack targeted two individuals operating a drone that allegedly posed a threat to Israeli troops in Beit Lahia.
“Later, additional militants gathered to recover the drone equipment and entered a vehicle. The IDF struck them,” the statement read.
Hamas-affiliated media director Ismail Thawabteh claimed that local photojournalists were killed while capturing images of a Ramadan dining event, insisting that their activities were clearly identifiable.
Tensions Amid Fragile Ceasefire
Although the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas has been in effect since January 19, Israeli airstrikes have continued, with the military claiming to be targeting militants planting explosives.
While both sides have refrained from fully resuming hostilities, the latest escalation raises concerns about the stability of the truce.
Stay updated for further developments.
Leave a Reply