A Palestinian TV channel has reported that five of its journalists were killed in an Israeli strike on the central Gaza Strip.
The journalists were inside a Quds Today van, parked outside al-Awda hospital in the Nuseirat refugee camp, where one of their colleagues’ wife was about to give birth.
The channel posted a video showing the burning vehicle with “press” markings on the back.
The Israeli Air Force confirmed it had targeted a vehicle with members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) inside, claiming the attack was guided by intelligence and aimed to minimize civilian casualties.
However, the BBC has not been able to independently verify the claims from both sides.
Quds Today is affiliated with PIJ, which participated in the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel that triggered the ongoing war.
In a separate incident, Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City resulted in five deaths and 20 injuries in the al-Zeitoun neighborhood. The Israeli military has yet to comment on these reports.
Meanwhile, both Hamas and Israel accused each other of delaying ceasefire talks.
Hamas blamed Israel for imposing new conditions, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of backing out of previously agreed terms.
This comes after talks, mediated by Qatar, were reportedly 90% complete earlier this week.
In response to last year’s Hamas attack, the Israeli military launched airstrikes and a ground offensive in Gaza, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.
Since then, more than 45,000 Palestinians have been killed, and almost two million people have been displaced, according to Gaza’s health ministry and the UN.
Source-BBC
