Gaza: Israeli drone strikes in northern Gaza on Saturday killed nine people and injured several others. The attack targeted a group of civilians in Beit Lahia, hitting a vehicle and resulting in the deaths of nine individuals, including two journalists. The Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza received the victims’ bodies, with some injuries reported as critical.
Palestinian sources and eyewitnesses reported that the drone strike targeted a team from the Al-Khair Foundation, an international aid organization. Among the dead were photojournalists, a media spokesperson, and a driver.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the attack, stating the target was a group of “terrorists,” including two individuals operating a drone that posed a threat to IDF troops, and others who had collected drone equipment and entered a vehicle.
Earlier on Saturday, the IDF also reported striking three militants in the Netzarim Corridor in central Gaza, who were allegedly attempting to plant explosives.
This escalation in Israeli airstrikes comes amid ongoing uncertainty over the continuation of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which expired on March 1, with negotiations for a second phase still stalled. The death toll from Israeli attacks in Gaza since October 7, 2023, has surpassed 48,000, with over 111,000 others injured, according to Gaza health authorities.