Gaza: The Palestinian Red Crescent Society has accused Israel of attacking its ambulances in southern Gaza.
“The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) strongly condemns the Israeli occupation forces’ targeting and besieging four of our ambulances and ten team members who were doing humanitarian work. Targeting our teams came after Israeli forces bombed the Al-Hashashin neighborhood in Rafah, Gaza Strip, at dawn yesterday and took control of the area,” the organization said in a statement on X on Monday.
The statement added that contact with the team was lost more than a day ago, and its fate remains unknown.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) resumed strikes against the Palestinian enclave last Tuesday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that the attacks had resumed in response to Hamas’ refusal to accept the US plan to extend the ceasefire regime and continue the release of hostages.
On March 1, a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that had been in effect since January 19 ended. Combat operations did not resume that day, thanks to the efforts of mediators. However, on March 2, Israel announced a ban on humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and threatened further pressure on Hamas for refusing to accept the new US plan to extend the truce in the enclave and release the remaining hostages.
Two journalists killed in Israeli attacks
Two journalists working for Al Jazeera and Palestine Today got killed in separate Israeli attacks on Gaza on Monday.
Hossan Shabat, a journalist working for Al Jazeera, was killed in eastern Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza, while Mohammad Mansour, a Palestine Today correspondent, was killed in an air strike on Khan Younis, along with his wife and son.
As per the witnesses, the Al Jazeera Journalist’s car was hit by the Israeli army directly, Qatari network reported.
According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, the number of media persons killed by Israeli attacks has reached 208 since October, 2023.
Israeli hostages in Hamas video urge halt of Gaza offensive
Hamas on Monday published a video of two Israeli hostages held in Gaza, in which the captives urged the Israeli government to halt its military operations, warning that continued attacks put their lives at risk.
The video, released by Hamas’ al-Qassam Brigades on Telegram, showed the captives identifying themselves only as “prisoner number 21” and “prisoner number 22.”
They claimed their appeal was voluntary and not part of psychological warfare. One detainee recounted the food shortages before the Jan. 19 ceasefire and noted that just as conditions were improving during the truce, Israel resumed its offensive on March 18, which dealt them a “severe blow.”
Both detainees warned that ongoing Israeli attacks could lead to their deaths and criticized the government’s handling of the situation.
They also called on previously released detainees to publicly share their experiences during captivity.
The Israeli government has not issued an official response, while military operations in Gaza continue amid international mediation efforts.
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