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Israeli strike kills three journalists in Gaza
First responders in Gaza reported that three Palestinian journalists died on Wednesday after an Israeli airstrike hit their vehicle in the al-Zahra area of central Gaza. The victims were identified as Mohammed Salah Qashta, Anas Ghneim, and Abdul Raouf Shaat.
Circumstances of the attack
Gaza's Hamas-run Civil Defence agency stated that the journalists were traveling in a car marked with the logo of the Egyptian Relief Committee, an organization they were working for at the time. The group was reportedly documenting camps for displaced people in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military confirmed the strike, claiming it targeted "several suspects operating a drone affiliated with Hamas" that posed a threat to its forces. The incident is currently under review, the military added.
Reactions and condemnation
A spokesperson for the Egyptian Relief Committee described the attack as a deliberate targeting during a humanitarian mission, resulting in the deaths of the three journalists. Hamas condemned the strike as a "dangerous escalation" and a violation of the ceasefire agreement.
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate labeled the incident a war crime, accusing Israel of a "systematic policy aimed at silencing Palestinian voices and concealing crimes against civilians."
"Israel, which possesses advanced technology capable of identifying its targets, has an obligation under international law to protect journalists."
Sara Qudah, Regional Director, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
Broader context of journalist casualties
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that at least 206 journalists and media workers have been killed by Israeli fire in Gaza since the war began, making it the deadliest conflict for journalists ever documented. Before Wednesday's incident, two journalists had been killed in Israeli strikes during the ceasefire, while a third was killed by a Palestinian armed group.
International news organizations, including the BBC, rely on local journalists in Gaza due to Israel's restrictions on foreign journalists entering the territory independently. Some journalists gain access through controlled visits organized by the Israeli military.
Additional casualties and ceasefire violations
The Hamas-run health ministry reported that eight more people, including two children, were killed by Israeli artillery and gunfire across Gaza on Wednesday. Medics detailed that three individuals, among them a 10-year-old boy, died in tank fire in central Gaza, while a 13-year-old boy and a woman were killed by gunfire in southern Khan Younis.
The Israeli military stated that its troops killed a "terrorist who crossed the Yellow Line" earlier on Wednesday. The Yellow Line marks territory in Gaza still under Israeli control under the ceasefire agreement.
Since the ceasefire began on 10 October, at least 466 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to the health ministry. The Israeli military reported that three of its soldiers have died in attacks by Palestinian armed groups during the same period.
Background of the conflict
The war was sparked by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, during which approximately 1,200 people were killed and 251 others taken hostage. Israel's subsequent military campaign in Gaza has resulted in over 71,550 deaths, according to the territory's health ministry.
