The air strikes come amidst a fragile ceasefire as negotiations for an extension fail to yield results.
Aid Workers Among Casualties in Israeli Air Strikes on Gaza: Al Khair Foundation
Aid Workers Among Casualties in Israeli Air Strikes on Gaza: Al Khair Foundation
Charity reports the tragic loss of eight personnel during air strikes in northern Gaza, highlighting ongoing tensions in the region.
In a devastating turn of events, a team of charity workers in northern Gaza was killed in Israeli air strikes, as reported by the Al Khair Foundation to the BBC. Eight individuals, comprising volunteers and independent journalists, lost their lives when their vehicles were targeted during operations on Saturday. The Al Khair Foundation condemned the strikes, calling it a "blatant violation" of the ceasefire agreement with Israel, previously established in response to months of conflict with Hamas.
Israeli military sources defended their actions, claiming they had targeted “two terrorists operating a drone that posed a threat to Israeli troops.” The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) asserted that subsequent strikes were executed on “additional terrorists” who arrived at the scene. The charity has since rejected these allegations, firmly stating their team members were not terrorists.
Qasim Rashid Ahmad, founder of the Al Khair Foundation, detailed the incident, explaining that their team was on a humanitarian mission—establishing tents and documenting their efforts. He recounted how the camera operators were returning to their vehicle when the strikes occurred, and further tragedy ensued as team members rushed for assistance only to be targeted by a drone that tracked them.
Reports identified the fatalities including video editor Bilal Abu Matar and cameramen Mahmoud Al-Sarraj, Bilal Aqila, and Mahmoud Asleem, known figures within the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, which accused Israel of systematically targeting journalists reporting in conflict zones.
In the aftermath, numerous others sustained injuries and were transported to the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza, with Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem denouncing the strikes as a “horrific massacre.” The ongoing conflict has persisted alongside a fragile ceasefire, established in January, which is now facing challenges in negotiations to extend its terms.
The initial stages of the ceasefire led to Hamas returning numerous hostages in exchange for thousands of Palestinian prisoners by Israel, while discussions to further these terms stalled. Recent communication indicated that U.S. negotiators urged Hamas to revisit "impractical" demands for talks to extend the ceasefire.
The ongoing violence has escalated since Hamas's unprecedented assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in significant casualties on both sides. The conflict, which has culminated in vast humanitarian crises, continues to evoke international concern as the situation remains precarious.
Israeli military sources defended their actions, claiming they had targeted “two terrorists operating a drone that posed a threat to Israeli troops.” The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) asserted that subsequent strikes were executed on “additional terrorists” who arrived at the scene. The charity has since rejected these allegations, firmly stating their team members were not terrorists.
Qasim Rashid Ahmad, founder of the Al Khair Foundation, detailed the incident, explaining that their team was on a humanitarian mission—establishing tents and documenting their efforts. He recounted how the camera operators were returning to their vehicle when the strikes occurred, and further tragedy ensued as team members rushed for assistance only to be targeted by a drone that tracked them.
Reports identified the fatalities including video editor Bilal Abu Matar and cameramen Mahmoud Al-Sarraj, Bilal Aqila, and Mahmoud Asleem, known figures within the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, which accused Israel of systematically targeting journalists reporting in conflict zones.
In the aftermath, numerous others sustained injuries and were transported to the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza, with Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem denouncing the strikes as a “horrific massacre.” The ongoing conflict has persisted alongside a fragile ceasefire, established in January, which is now facing challenges in negotiations to extend its terms.
The initial stages of the ceasefire led to Hamas returning numerous hostages in exchange for thousands of Palestinian prisoners by Israel, while discussions to further these terms stalled. Recent communication indicated that U.S. negotiators urged Hamas to revisit "impractical" demands for talks to extend the ceasefire.
The ongoing violence has escalated since Hamas's unprecedented assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in significant casualties on both sides. The conflict, which has culminated in vast humanitarian crises, continues to evoke international concern as the situation remains precarious.
