The Government Media Office in Gaza announced this Saturday that at least nine charity workers were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beit Lahia, located in northern Gaza. This tragic incident marks the deadliest airstrike carried out by Israel on the Gaza Strip since the ceasefire began.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, nine people were killed and transported to Gaza’s Indonesian Hospital, along with multiple injured individuals, some in critical condition. Among the deceased were journalist Bilal Abu Matar, charity worker Mohammed Al-Ghafir, photographers Mahmoud Al-Sarraj and Bilal Aqilah, driver Abu Hazem Sardah, spokesperson Abu Suhaib Al-Najjar, and two other drone operators.
Reportedly the team was on a mission to document humanitarian relief efforts in northern Gaza, but the Israeli army claimed that the team was operating and trying to recover their drone, the Israeli army also claimed they were terrorists working for Hamas. Furthermore, Hamas in its statement accused the Israeli army of committing a horrific massacre.
“a horrific massacre in Beit Lahia, claiming the lives of nine martyrs working for a charity engaged in humanitarian efforts at shelters and displacement centers.”
Hamas
The Government Media office in Gaza also stated
The targeting of unarmed civilians, especially those providing humanitarian aid to displaced and homeless individuals, constitutes a blatant violation of international and humanitarian law,”
Ismail Thawabta, Director General of Gaza government media office