An Israeli airstrike on the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya killed at least nine people, including local journalists, on Saturday, Gaza’s health ministry said, as ceasefire negotiations between Hamas and Israeli officials remain deadlocked.
Health officials reported several critical injuries after the strike targeted a vehicle, killing those inside and nearby. Witnesses and fellow journalists said the vehicle was part of a mission for the Al-Khair Foundation, a charity operating in the area, and was accompanied by media workers when it was hit. Palestinian media confirmed that at least three journalists were among the dead.
The Israeli military stated it had targeted two individuals it claimed were “terrorists” operating a drone it said posed a threat to its forces in Beit Lahiya. A subsequent strike hit several other individuals collecting the drone equipment and entering a vehicle, the military said, though it did not provide evidence supporting its claims.
The attack comes amid ongoing tensions over the fragile ceasefire agreement reached on January 19. Palestinian health officials report that Israeli fire has killed dozens despite the truce. Hamas accused Israel of seeking to derail the agreement, saying 150 Palestinians had been killed since its implementation. The group urged mediators to pressure Israel into following through on the phased ceasefire plan, blaming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the current stalemate.
Since the temporary first phase of the ceasefire expired on March 2, Israel has refused to enter negotiations for a permanent end to hostilities, a key Hamas demand. Instead, it has sought to extend the ceasefire’s initial phase, a move backed by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. Hamas has maintained that further hostage releases will only occur if Israel agrees to the second phase of the truce.
Meanwhile, Hamas’ exiled Gaza chief, Khalil Al-Hayya, is in Cairo for further ceasefire discussions. On Friday, Hamas offered to release American-Israeli dual national Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli soldier, if Israel commits to progressing the talks toward a permanent ceasefire. Israel dismissed the offer as “psychological warfare.”
The war erupted after Hamas launched a cross-border attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. In response, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 48,000 people, according to health officials in the enclave. The offensive has left much of Gaza in ruins and led to accusations of genocide and war crimes, which Israel denies.
