Hamas decries ‘horrific massacre’ after Israeli strikes kill 9 in Gaza

Gaza’s civil defence agency said Saturday (March 15) that nine people, including journalists, were killed in Israeli strikes on the northern town of Beit Lahia.

“Nine martyrs have been transferred to the hospital, including several journalists and a number of workers from the Al-Khair Charitable Organisation," claimed Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesman for the agency.

The drone attack targeted a vehicle at a time when the area was facing intense artillery shelling from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).

Palestinian militant organisation Hamas condemned the attack, calling it a “blatant violation” of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. A spokesperson for the group called the strikes a “horrific massacre”.

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“The occupation (Israel) has committed a horrific massacre in the northern Gaza Strip by targeting a group of journalists and humanitarian workers," said Hazem Qassem.

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The first phase of the ceasefire ended earlier this month, with negotiations still ongoing in Doha. However, violence continues despite the truce.

Last week, an Israeli airstrike killed two Palestinians in Rafah, southern Gaza, just a day after an Israeli drone strike claimed two lives in northern Gaza.

Hamas announced on Friday (March 14) that it was prepared to release an Israeli-American hostage and hand over the remains of four others, as indirect ceasefire negotiations with Israel resumed.

However, Israel stated that Hamas had “not budged” despite a proposal from US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff.

Israeli strike on Lebanon

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, an Israeli strike on a vehicle in southern Lebanon killed one person on Saturday.

“A strike by the Israeli enemy on a car in the town of Burj al-Muluk (near the Israeli border) led to the death of one citizen,” said the Lebanese health ministry in a statement.

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A truce on November 27 largely paused over a year of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, including two months of intense fighting when Israeli ground troops entered Lebanon. Despite the agreement, Israel has continued to launch occasional strikes on Lebanese territory.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Israeli military confirmed an airstrike in southern Lebanon that killed a senior Hezbollah militant, reportedly in charge of the group’s drone and rocket arsenal.

(With inputs from agencies)