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October 21, 2025 – Palestine –
Palestinian journalist Ahmad Abu Mutayr was killed on 20 October 2025 in an Israeli strike on Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, despite an active ceasefire agreement. Mutayr was reporting from the area when the attack occurred, marking yet another journalist casualty in a conflict that has claimed the lives of dozens of media workers. His body was later transferred to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, where colleagues, family members, and fellow journalists gathered to pay their respects.
Mutayr’s death comes amid a growing outcry from international press freedom organizations, human rights monitors, and local journalist unions. Despite assurances of reduced hostilities, the Israeli attack highlights the extreme risks faced by reporters who continue to document the realities on the ground. Palestinian journalists, already working under near-total blockade conditions, face a combination of physical danger, surveillance, and infrastructure collapse that makes their work both vital and perilous.
The incident reflects an increasingly dangerous environment for the press in Gaza. According to rights groups, journalists are frequently caught in bombardments despite wearing press vests and identifying themselves as media personnel. Many have been killed or wounded while reporting from hospitals, residential neighborhoods, and refugee camps. In previous incidents, journalists were also targeted during live coverage, intensifying concerns about direct attacks on the press.
Mutayr’s killing is part of a broader pattern that press freedom advocates say constitutes a systematic assault on the ability of Palestinian journalists to work safely. Local journalist syndicates condemned the attack as a clear violation of international humanitarian law, which mandates the protection of civilians and journalists in conflict zones. Calls for accountability have grown louder, with advocacy groups urging international bodies to investigate such strikes as potential war crimes.
Ahmad Abu Mutayr is now among the many journalists who have lost their lives covering the war in Gaza. His death serves as a stark reminder of both the cost of bearing witness and the urgency of protecting those who document war.
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