As Gaza’s civil defence agency said nine people, including journalists, were killed in Israeli strikes a day ago, Hamas has termed the attacks a “dangerous escalation” that threatens the fragile ceasefire, according to AFP.

“The occupation has committed a horrific massacre in the northern Gaza Strip by targeting a group of journalists and humanitarian workers, in a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement,” Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said in a statement.

A separate Hamas statement called the attack “a dangerous escalation”, adding that it “reaffirms (Israel’s) intent to backtrack on the ceasefire agreement and intentionally obstruct any opportunity to complete the agreement and carry out the prisoner swap”.

Israel has carried out near-daily air strikes in Gaza since early March, often targeting what the military claimed were fighters planting explosives.