Nine, including journalists, killed in Israeli strike on Gaza; Hamas condemns it as a ‘blatant ceasefire violation’

GAZA CITY, March 16 — Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that nine people, including journalists, were killed in Israeli strikes yesterday, raising concerns over the stability of the fragile ceasefire in the Palestinian territory.

The strikes, described as the deadliest since the ceasefire took effect on January 19, prompted Hamas to accuse Israel of a “blatant violation” of the agreement, which had largely halted more than 15 months of conflict.

The initial phase of the truce ended on March 1 without a clear agreement on the next steps, yet both Israel and Hamas have refrained from resuming full-scale war. A senior Hamas official confirmed that fresh negotiations had begun in Doha, with Israel also dispatching negotiators.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed his negotiating team to “prepare for the continuation” of indirect talks with Hamas on the ceasefire, according to a statement from his office on Saturday.

Deadly Attack in Beit Lahia

Gaza civil defence spokesman Mahmoud Bassal told AFP that “nine martyrs have been transferred (to hospital), including several journalists and a number of workers from the Al-Khair Charitable Organisation.”

He claimed the deaths occurred due to an Israeli drone strike on a vehicle in Beit Lahia, coinciding with artillery shelling in the area.

The health ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza confirmed the fatalities, stating that “nine martyrs and several injured, including critical cases,” were taken to the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza.

Israel’s military, however, stated that its forces targeted “two terrorists... operating a drone that posed a threat to IDF troops in the area of Beit Lahia.” The military further claimed that after additional individuals collected the drone equipment and entered a vehicle, they were also targeted.

Hamas Condemns Attack as ‘Systematic Targeting’

Hamas condemned the strike, describing it as a “horrific massacre” and a direct attack on journalists and humanitarian workers. Spokesman Hazem Qassem called it a “blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement.”

In a separate statement, Hamas labeled the attack a “dangerous escalation,” accusing Israel of deliberately obstructing efforts to advance the ceasefire agreement and a potential prisoner exchange.

During the initial six-week phase of the truce, Hamas released 33 hostages—eight of whom were deceased—in exchange for approximately 1,800 Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons. On Saturday, Hamas stated that “the ball is in Israel’s court” after offering to release an Israeli-US hostage and return the bodies of four others as part of the ongoing ceasefire negotiations.

Journalists Among the Victims

The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate reported that among those killed were an editor and three photojournalists, including a drone photography specialist. According to Gaza’s civil defence agency, they were inside an Al-Khair charity vehicle, working on reports about humanitarian efforts during Ramadan.

Two members of the Al-Khair Charitable Organisation, including a spokesperson, were also killed.

“This heinous crime is part of the systematic targeting of Palestinian journalists,” the syndicate stated, adding that such attacks constitute a war crime and a clear violation of international laws, particularly the Geneva Convention, which protects journalists in conflict zones.

In November, Reporters Without Borders reported that more than 140 journalists had been killed in Gaza by Israeli military actions since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which triggered the war.

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Ongoing Hostage Crisis and Ceasefire Talks

The October 7 Hamas-led attack resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, while Israeli military retaliations in Gaza have claimed over 48,543 lives, according to figures from both sides.

Currently, 58 hostages are believed to remain in Gaza, with the Israeli army declaring 34 of them dead.

Israel has accused Hamas of stalling in the ceasefire talks, with Israeli officials claiming the group is engaging in “psychological warfare.” Meanwhile, the United States has warned Hamas that delaying negotiations is “a very bad bet.”

In Tel Aviv, hundreds gathered for the weekly protest demanding the release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza. — AFP