Five Gaza journalists killed in Israeli strike

The BBC has not been able to verify the claims made by both sides.

Quds Today is affiliated with the PIJ group that took part in the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel. The unprecedented attack triggered the war in Gaza.

In a separate development, five people were reported killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza City on Wednesday.

The Palestinian Wafa news agency, and the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, also said a further 20 people were injured in the city’s al-Zeitoun neighbourhood.

The Israeli military has not commented on the reported bombing.

Also on Wednesday, Hamas and Israel blamed each other for delays in the latest attempt to reach a ceasefire.

Hamas accused the Israeli government of imposing “new conditions” that it said were delaying the agreement.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the group was reneging on understandings that had already been reached about a possible ceasefire.

The latest statements mark a notable change of tone on both sides.

On Tuesday, Netanyahu’s office said Israeli representatives had returned from Qatar, which is mediating, after “significant negotiations” – and earlier Palestinian negotiators told the BBC the talks were 90% complete bar a few issues.

The Israeli military launched air strikes and a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip in response to last year’s Hamas attack. About 1,200 people were killed in the attack and another 251 taken back to Gaza as hostages.

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

Additional reporting by Jaroslav Lukiv.