Journalists among 9 Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrike targeting relief team in northern Gaza

At least nine Palestinians, including journalists, were killed on Saturday in an Israeli airstrike targeting a relief team in the town of Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, the Health Ministry said.

"Nine people were martyred and several injured, including critical cases, were brought to the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza following the ongoing Israeli aggression on the strip," the ministry said in a statement.

According to sources, the drone struck a relief team distributing temporary tents to residents whose homes had been destroyed by Israel.

The Palestinian Journalists' Protection Center said in a statement that Israel killed "three journalists in an airstrike on a media team documenting relief efforts in northern Gaza."

"The journalists were documenting humanitarian relief efforts for those affected by Israel's genocidal war," the statement added.

The airstrike is part of a series of Israeli violations of the ceasefire, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the US, which took hold on Jan. 19.

The first, six-week phase of the deal ended in early March, but Israel has refused to proceed with the second phase, which included further captive exchanges with Hamas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stalled negotiations for the second phase, seeking instead to extend the initial prisoner exchange period to secure the release of more Israeli captives without fulfilling the military and humanitarian obligations stipulated in the agreement.

Hamas, however, has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to the ceasefire, urging mediators to enforce Israel's compliance and immediately commence negotiations to move forward.

More than 48,500 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since October 2023. The military campaign has left the enclave in ruins.