Targeted Deaths in Gaza: Two Journalists Killed in Israeli Airstrikes

November 2, 2024 – Palestine/Israel –

Two Palestinian journalists, Bilal Rajab and photojournalist Baraa Ali Daghish, were tragically killed in Israeli airstrikes just 24 hours apart in central Gaza, sparking condemnation from Palestinian media groups and international press freedom organizations.

On November 1, 2024, Bilal Rajab, an Al-Quds al-Youm TV correspondent, was struck and killed outside a school in Tuffah, Gaza City, when the Israeli military launched an airstrike on a civilian area. Less than a day later, on November 2, 2024, Baraa Ali Daghish, a freelance photojournalist, was killed during an airstrike on a residential building in Nuseirat refugee camp.

These successive attacks prompted swift denunciations. A leading Palestinian media rights group condemned the shootings as deliberate targeting of journalists in Gaza. Internationally, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called such killings “unacceptable,” urging protective measures for media workers amid allegations of genocide.

The Israeli military has yet to formally respond to these deaths. The incidents align with a disturbing trend: Gaza has become the deadliest conflict zone for journalists globally, with at least 180 Palestinian media workers killed since October 2023. Many of the victims were civilians carrying out journalistic duties clearly marked with press vests and equipment, yet still fell victim to bombardment .

The targeting of Rajab and Daghish reflects a broader crisis in Gaza, where independent documentation of the conflict is increasingly hazardous. Press freedom groups are calling for independent investigations and accountability under international humanitarian law to examine whether these deaths constitute war crimes.

Against the backdrop of mounting journalist casualties, global media watchdogs—including CPJ, RSF, and IPI—have raised alarms. Their demands are clear: protect media workers, investigate every attack, and ensure that the world continues to hear the voices of those reporting from the frontline in Gaza .

The murders of Rajab and Daghish are more than isolated tragedies. They represent an assault on press freedoms and the flow of information. Until urgent action is taken, Gaza remains a perilous landscape for those risking everything to keep the world informed.

Reference – 

https://en.abna24.com/photo/1500346/Photo-Palestinian-Journalist-Baraa-Ali-Daghish-martyred-in-IOF

https://en.mehrnews.com/news/223909/Palestine-media-group-condemns-Israeli-killing-of-2-reporters