Reports from Palestinian media indicate that at least nine individuals, including three journalists, lost their lives and several others sustained injuries in an Israeli drone strike on Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza.
The incident on Saturday targeted a relief team that was accompanied by journalists and photographers. Among the casualties are three local journalists.
The Palestinian Journalists’ Protection Center released a statement stating that “the journalists were documenting humanitarian relief efforts for those affected by Israel’s genocidal war” and urged Gaza ceasefire mediators to push Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to follow through with the agreed truce and prisoner exchange.
Israel has declined to enter talks on the second phase of the ceasefire with Hamas, which would involve negotiating a permanent end to the conflict, a demand strongly emphasized by Hamas.
Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Khan Younis in southern Gaza, highlighted the increase in humanitarian efforts by various organizations and charities following the initial phase of the ceasefire in January, especially during the holy month of Ramadan.
Abu Azzoum explained, “The attack in Beit Lahiya has sparked widespread condemnation, although it is not the first. Witnesses have reported Israeli drone presence in the southern part of Gaza, as well as Israeli attacks in Rafah city in the past 24 hours.”
Hamas condemned the Beit Lahiya attack as a “horrific massacre” and a continuation of Israeli “war crimes against our people.” They described it as a dangerous escalation reflecting Israel’s determination to continue its aggression and disregard for international laws and conventions.
In response, the Israeli military stated that they targeted “two terrorists operating a threatening drone” in the Beit Lahiya area. They later struck the terrorists who collected the drone equipment and entered a vehicle, without providing evidence to support their claims.
According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, over 48,543 Palestinians have been confirmed killed and 111,981 wounded in Israel’s war on Gaza, while Gaza’s Government Media Office reported a death toll exceeding 61,700, with thousands of missing Palestinians presumed dead under the rubble.
‘Crisis that has no end in sight’ due to aid blockade
In addition to ongoing drone attacks, Israel halted all aid entry into Gaza on March 2, just hours after the ceasefire with Hamas expired, raising concerns about worsening hunger and hardships for Gaza residents.
Moreover, Israel cut off electricity to a vital water desalination plant, posing a threat to Gaza’s drinking water supply.
As a result, people are forced to rely on negative coping mechanisms, including reducing their daily meals. Families are struggling to afford the meal to break their fast during Ramadan, highlighting a crisis without a foreseeable end.
Rights groups have accused Israel of committing crimes against humanity and violating international law by blocking aid to Gaza. UNICEF warned that one in three children under two in northern Gaza suffer from severe malnutrition.
UNICEF stated that the rapid spread of malnutrition among children in Gaza has reached devastating and unprecedented levels due to Israel’s actions and ongoing restrictions on aid delivery to the region.
According to Niku Jafarnia, a researcher at Human Rights Watch (HRW), Israel’s deliberate obstruction of Gaza’s access to water constitutes acts of genocide. Jafarnia explained that Israel is limiting Gaza’s water supply by attacking desalination facilities, cutting off water pipelines from Israel, restricting fuel access, and targeting wastewater treatment plants.
This includes preventing the delivery of repair materials needed to fix water infrastructure and attacking a water municipality warehouse holding millions of dollars worth of repair equipment.
Ceasefire talks in limbo?
Israel’s aid blockade and recent attacks in Gaza coincide with ongoing ceasefire negotiations.
Reporting from Amman, Jordan, Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh noted that the truce talks appear to be at a standstill because each party is firmly defending its position.
“Hamas has proposed the release of one Israeli captive with dual citizenship along with four captive bodies, while Israel and US envoy Steve Witkoff have their own proposals, with the US envoy aligning more closely with Netanyahu’s position,” she said.
“Hamas insists on discussing the end of the conflict, not just the terms of an agreement or a bridging proposal, leading to a significant gap between the negotiating parties.”
