A foreign journalist from Associated Press was among five killed during a bomb explosion in Beit Lahiya town in northern Gaza.
Simone Camilli, a 35-year-old Italian video journalist and producer with the AP, died when an attempt to defuse a missile by a bomb squad went awry.
"A number of explosives experts were killed while dismantling an (Israeli) missile in Beit Lahiya. Among them was a foreign journalist," interior ministry spokesman Iyad al-Buzam told Agence France Presse.
Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesman of the health ministry confirmed the news on Facebook. However, he removed Camilli's name referring to him just as a 'foreign journalist'.
The incident came a day before Israeli and Palestinian negotiators entered the final day of ceasefire talks in Cairo, Wednesday.
"The death of Simone Camilli is a tragedy for the family and for our country," said Federica Mogherini, Italian foreign minister, reports The Telegraph.
"Once again a journalist has paid the price of a war that has been going on for years and for the second time in a few months we are crying over the death of young people who are courageously committed to working as reporters," he added.
No statements has been issued by the Associated Press yet.
At least 1,900 Palestinians have been killed, and more than 10,200 have been injured, following the airstrikes by Israel that began July 8. The casualties include thousands of children, women and elderly, as well as entire families.
