Five Gaza journalists killed in Israeli strike

A Palestinian TV channel says five of its journalists have been killed in an Israeli strike in the central Gaza Strip.

They were in a Quds Today car parked outside the al-Awda hospital, where the wife of one of the journalists was about to give birth, in the Nuseirat refugee camp.

The video posted a video of what it says is a burning car with “seal” signs on the back doors.

The Israeli army said it attacked “in a targeted and tactical manner” a vehicle with members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) group inside. It also said that measures to reduce civilian casualties have been taken.

The BBC was unable to confirm either side’s claims.

Quds Today is affiliated with the PIJ group that participated in the Hamas-led attack on 7 October 2023 in Israel. The attack sparked a war in Gaza.

Separately, five people were killed in an Israeli attack on Gaza City on Wednesday.

The Palestinian news agency Wafa, as well as the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, said another 20 people were injured in the al-Zeitoun area of ​​the city.

The Israeli military has not commented on the reported explosions.

Also on Wednesday, Hamas and Israel criticized each other for the delay in the latest attempt to end the war.

Hamas criticized the Israeli government for imposing “new conditions” which it said were delaying the deal.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the group is backing away from previous ceasefire agreements.

The latest statement shows a significant change in tone on both sides.

On Tuesday, Netanyahu’s office said that Israeli representatives had arrived from Qatar, which is mediating, after “extensive negotiations” – and previous Palestinian negotiators told the BBC that the negotiations were 90% complete in several rounds of talks.

The Israeli military has launched airstrikes and attacks in the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas attacks last year. About 1,200 people were killed in the attack and another 251 were returned to Gaza as captives.

More than 45,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive, Gaza’s health ministry said. About two million people – 90% of the population – have been displaced, according to the UN.

Additional reporting by Jaroslav Lukiv.