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Palestinian Journalists Face Detention and Death Amid Escalating Repression
November 17, 2024
November 16, 2024 – Palestine/Israel –
Palestinian journalist Mohammed Saleh Al-Sharif was killed in a targeted drone strike while inspecting the impact of the conflict near his home in the Jabalia refugee camp. Israeli forces deployed a quadcopter drone to open fire on Al‑Sharif and his cousin as they approached their residence in Beit Lahia. His cousin died instantly, and Al‑Sharif bled for more than two hours before succumbing to his injuries.
The incident took place amid an intense Israeli military offensive in northern Gaza, with authorities simultaneously blocking civil defense and emergency medical teams from entering the region for over 25 days, exacerbating casualties and delaying aid. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate confirmed Al‑Sharif’s death and stated that this brought the total of Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza since October 2023 to approximately 174.
The killing sparked wide condemnation from press protection groups. The World Federation of Press Solidarity and other media rights organizations denounced the use of drones against journalists as a dangerous escalation, arguing that this modus operandi potentially amounts to deliberate targeting rather than collateral damage. These groups maintain that attacks on clearly identified press members constitute grave violations of international humanitarian law.
Mohammed Al‑Sharif, who had been displaced from Tel Al‑Zaatar in Jabalia due to earlier bombardment, was carrying out a routine assessment of his home’s damage when he encountered the lethal strike. His death underscores an alarming escalation in the specific targeting of journalists—these attacks compound physical danger with restricted access, as international media have been largely banned from northern Gaza.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) have repeatedly highlighted that Gaza is now the deadliest place in the world for journalists. They cite rising incidents of journalists being hit by drones, tank shells, and airstrikes—even when wearing visibly marked press vests.
In response, international authorities and human rights organizations have urged an independent investigation into Al‑Sharif’s death and renewed calls for measures to ensure the protection of journalists in conflict zones. They argue that press workers must be recognized as civilians, untouchable under international law unless directly engaged in hostilities.
Reference –
https://www.newarab.com/news/israeli-forces-kill-gaza-journalist-drone-attack
https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/151700
