Israeli Airstrike kills nine in Gaza, including two journalists, in the midst of a ceasefire talks

At least nine Palestinians were killed, including two local journalists, and others were injured on Saturday at an Israeli airline in North Beit Lahiya in Gaza, Gaza’s health minister said, as Hamas’ leaders hold talks.

Many were critically injured as the strike hit a car, victims in and out of the vehicle, Reuters health officials said.

Witnesses and fellow journalists said people in the car were on a mission for a charity called al-Khair Foundation at Beit Lahiya and were accompanied by journalists and photographers when their strike hit. At least three local journalists were among the dead, according to Palestinian media.

There was no immediate comment by the Israeli army.

The incident underlines the fragility of the January 19th ceasefire agreement, which stopped large -scale battles in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian health officials say dozens of people were killed by an Israeli fire despite the truce.

Responding to some of the incidents reported by Gaza Medics, the Israeli army says that its forces have intervened to prevent threats from the “terrorists” approaching its forces or planting bombing on the ground near the forces.

As a temporary first phase of the cease expired on March 2, Israel rejected the opening of the second phase of the talks, which would require to negotiate for a permanent end to the war, the main demand of the Palestinian Hamas team.

The incident coincided with a visit by the exiled head of Gaza of Hamas, Khalil al-Hayya, to Cairo for further ceasefire conversations aimed at resolving Israeli disputes that could risk repetition of the battle.

On Friday, Hamas said she had agreed to release an American-Israeli double national if Israel begins the next phase of the ceasefire for a permanent end to war, an Israeli offering that was rejected as a “psychological war”.

Hamas said she had made the offer to release the local Edan Alexander of New Jersey, a 21 -year -old soldier in the Israeli army after receiving a proposal from mediators for negotiations in the second phase of a ceasefire agreement.

Israel says it wants to expand the temporary first phase of the core cease, a proposal supported by our envoy Steve Witkoff. Hamas says she will repeat the release of hostages only under the second phase.