Nine Palestinians martyred in occupation airstrike amid Gaza ceasefire talks
GAZA – At least nine Palestinians were martyred, including two local journalists, and others were wounded on Saturday in an occupation airstrike on Gaza’s northern Beit Lahiya town, Gaza’s health ministry said, as Hamas’ leaders hold Gaza ceasefire talks with mediators in Cairo.
Witnesses and fellow journalists said the people in the car were on a mission for a charity called Al-Khair Foundation in Beit Lahiya, and they were accompanied by journalists and photographers when the strike hit them. At least three local journalists were among the dead, according to Palestinian media.
The airstrike exposes the Zionist occupation’s violations of the January 19 ceasefire agreement that halted a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian group Hamas accused “Israel” in a statement of attempting to renege on the ceasefire agreement, putting the number of Palestinians martyred since January 19 at 150.
It urged mediators to compel the Zionist entity to move ahead with the implementation of the phased ceasefire deal, blaming Benjamin Netanyahu for the current impasse.
Since a temporary first phase of the ceasefire expired on March 2, the Zionist occupation rejected opening the second phase of talks, which would require it to negotiate over a permanent end to the war.
The airstrike coincided with a visit by Hamas’ Gaza chief, Khalil Al-Hayya, to Cairo for further ceasefire talks.
Gaza’s Health Ministry says at least 48,524 Palestinians have been martyred and 111,955 wounded in the Zionist occupation’s genocidal war on Gaza. Gaza’s Government Media Office has updated its toll to more than 61,700, saying thousands of Palestinians missing under the rubble are presumed dead.
