Gaza City: Hamas has strongly condemned an Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza that killed at least nine Palestinians, including two local journalists, and left several others critically injured. The strike, which targeted a car in Beit Lahiya on Saturday, has been described by Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qasim as a 'brutal crime' and a blatant violation of the January 19 ceasefire agreement. The victims were charity workers, journalists, and photographers on a mission for the Al Khair charity foundation.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Qasim accused Israel of deliberately exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza by targeting aid workers and blocking essential supplies through border closures. He stated that the attack aims to deepen the suffering of the Palestinian people and create famine. He further claimed that the killing of journalists was an attempt to suppress the documentation of ongoing crimes against Palestinians in the enclave, asserting that the regime seeks to prevent the outflow of the crimes going on against the Palestinian people.

The January 19 ceasefire agreement, which initially halted large-scale hostilities, has faced repeated violations. The first phase of the agreement expired on March 2, with Israel pushing for an extension until mid-April. Hamas, however, insists on transitioning to the second phase, which aims to establish a permanent end to the conflict. The latest attack, one of the deadliest since the ceasefire took effect, underscores the fragility of the agreement and raises concerns about the potential for renewed fighting in Gaza.