The first phase of the ceasefire in the besieged Gaza Strip, which came into effect on January 19, ended on the first day of this month (March 1). More than two weeks have passed since then, but there has been no agreement between the Palestinian freedom-fighting armed group Hamas and Israel regarding the second phase of the ceasefire.
At this stage of the ceasefire agreement, Hamas wants a permanent end to the war, but Israel has rejected the proposal to start negotiations. They want the release of all Israelis held hostage by Hamas without any conditions such as prisoner exchange and troop withdrawal.
In this stalled phase of the ceasefire, Israeli forces are constantly attacking Gaza to increase pressure on Hamas, which has once again started a series of deaths.
Most recently, on Saturday (March 15), Israel launched another round of attacks on the besieged Palestinian enclave. At least 12 people have been killed in the attacks. Among the dead are 3 journalists and several aid workers. Several others were injured.
Al Jazeera reported this information in their report on Sunday (March 16).
The news outlet said that at least nine people were killed in an Israeli drone strike in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, three of whom were journalists and most of whom were humanitarian aid workers.
According to Palestinian media reports about the attack, at least nine people, including three journalists, were killed and several others were injured in an Israeli drone strike in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza. It is learned that Saturday's attack targeted a relief team accompanying journalists and photographers. At least three local journalists were among the dead.
The Palestinian Journalists Protection Center issued a statement regarding the incident, stating that the journalists killed were documenting humanitarian relief efforts for those affected by Israel's genocidal war.
At the same time, the organization has called on Gaza ceasefire mediators to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to move forward with the implementation of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange as per the agreement.
According to Al Jazeera's report, Israeli forces carried out another drone strike in the central city of Juhor ad-Dik on the same day, killing two people.
On the other hand, another Palestinian boy was shot dead in Beit Lahia. Another woman was shot in the back in the same attack.
In addition, an Israeli quadcopter drone bomb was dropped on a tent of the Al-Kan family in the Al-Shakush area northwest of Rafah. Eight more people were injured in this attack. Another Palestinian was shot in the Tal as-Sultan area west of the same city.
Basically, even while the first phase of the ceasefire was in effect, Israeli forces repeatedly violated the terms of the agreement and attacked Gaza, and in these cases, the country's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has always given lame excuses.
According to Palestinian local authorities, Israeli forces have killed more than 150 Palestinians in Gaza since the ceasefire came into effect on January 19.
