Israeli airstrike in Gaza claims lives of three journalists, emergency officials report

Three Palestinian journalists have been killed following an Israeli strike in central Gaza, according to first responders.
Gaza’s Hamas-administered Civil Defence agency said the journalists were traveling in a vehicle that was hit in the al-Zahra area. The victims were identified as Mohammed Salah Qashta, Anas Ghneim, and Abdul Raouf Shaat.

Reports indicate that the journalists were working with an Egyptian humanitarian relief organisation at the time of the incident.
In a statement, the Israeli military said it had targeted “several suspects operating a drone linked to Hamas in a manner that posed a threat” to its forces, adding that the incident was being reviewed.
Meanwhile, the Hamas-run health ministry said at least eight other people, including two children, were killed on Wednesday as a result of Israeli artillery fire and gunshots across different parts of Gaza.
Medical officials told Reuters that three people, among them a 10-year-old boy, died after Israeli tank shelling in another area of central Gaza. They also reported that a 13-year-old boy and a woman were killed by Israeli gunfire in the southern city of Khan Younis.
The Israeli military earlier on Wednesday announced that its troops had shot dead a “terrorist who crossed the Yellow Line and approached” them, without disclosing the specific location. The Yellow Line refers to areas of Gaza that remain under Israeli control under the terms of the ceasefire agreement.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, at least 466 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect on October 10. The Israeli military, for its part, said three of its soldiers have died in attacks carried out by Palestinian armed groups during the same period.
The father of Mutasem al-Shrafi, a 13-year-old boy, said his son was shot and killed by Israeli forces in eastern Khan Younis.
The three journalists killed on Wednesday were described as photojournalists documenting camps for displaced people in Gaza on behalf of the Egyptian Relief Committee.
A spokesperson for the organisation said the vehicle struck by the airstrike was clearly marked with its logo and was engaged in a humanitarian mission, adding that the attack resulted in the “martyrdom of three individuals.”
Hamas condemned the strike, calling it a “dangerous escalation” and a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement.
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate also denounced the incident, describing it as a war crime and accusing Israel of pursuing a systematic policy to silence Palestinian voices, obstruct the flow of information, and conceal alleged crimes against civilians, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa.
French news agency AFP expressed deep sorrow over the death of Abdul Raouf Shaat, who was a regular contributor, and called for a full and transparent investigation.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said it was “appalled” by the killings. Its regional director, Sara Qudah, stated that Israel, which possesses advanced surveillance and targeting technology, has a legal obligation under international law to ensure the protection of journalists.
The CPJ has recorded the deaths of at least 206 journalists and media workers in Gaza due to Israeli fire since the war began, making it the deadliest conflict for journalists on record. Before Wednesday’s incident, two journalists had reportedly been killed in Israeli strikes during the ceasefire, while another was killed by members of a Palestinian armed group, according to the organisation.
International media outlets, including the BBC, rely heavily on local journalists in Gaza, as Israel restricts independent access for foreign reporters. Some journalists are allowed entry only under escort and controlled conditions by the Israeli military.
The current conflict erupted following the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others taken hostage.
Israel responded with a large-scale military offensive in Gaza. According to the territory’s health ministry, more than 71,550 people have been killed since the start of the campaign.
— BBC