“Gazawood”: How Smear Campaigns in Gaza Target Journalists & Undermine Their Safety
September 15, 2025
Senegalese and African Journalists Condemn Deadly Attacks on Gaza Press
September 15, 2025
September 15, 2025 – Palestine –
Mohammad al-Kuwaifi, a Palestinian journalist, was killed on Monday following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, marking yet another devastating loss for the press corps in the besieged enclave. According to medical and media reports, al-Kuwaifi was inside a tent erected on the roof of a house in the al-Nasr neighborhood of western Gaza when the strike occurred. The tent was being used by displaced families seeking temporary refuge after fleeing earlier bombardments. The attack left al-Kuwaifi and another civilian dead, adding to the mounting civilian toll of the war.
Al-Kuwaifi’s death is part of a grim pattern in which journalists in Gaza continue to face lethal risks while attempting to live, work, and bear witness under constant bombardment. His passing brings the number of Palestinian journalists killed since the outbreak of war on 7 October 2023 to 249, according to figures released by Gaza’s Government Media Office. This staggering statistic underscores Gaza’s position as the deadliest conflict for journalists in modern history, with nearly every major international press freedom organisation warning that the targeting of media workers is eroding the protections that underpin the role of journalism in war.
Human rights groups and journalist unions swiftly condemned the killing, stressing that the deliberate or indiscriminate targeting of journalists constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law. They argue that journalists like al-Kuwaifi are civilians, entitled to protection, and that their deaths deprive the world of essential coverage from one of the most inaccessible and heavily bombarded regions in the world. Advocacy organisations have also reiterated calls for international investigations into the broader pattern of journalist fatalities in Gaza, noting that accountability remains virtually absent.
For Gaza’s journalists, al-Kuwaifi’s death serves as both a tragedy and a warning. Many continue to work despite losing colleagues, family members, and even their homes, underscoring both their resilience and the perilous environment in which they operate. His killing highlights the immense sacrifices made by media workers and the urgent need for stronger international mechanisms to safeguard their lives. Mohammad al-Kuwaifi is now among the growing list of journalists who paid the ultimate price in pursuit of truth, a reminder of the dangerous costs of documenting war.
Reference –
Another Palestinian journalist killed by Israeli army in Gaza Strip
