Two Journalists Killed in Gaza as Strikes Intensify and Ceasefire Talks Resume

The war in Gaza claimed the lives of two more Palestinian journalists in early January 2025, amid renewed Israeli airstrikes and efforts to revive ceasefire negotiations in Qatar. Among the victims was well-known photojournalist Omar Al-Derawi, who died after an Israeli missile struck his home in the central Gaza town of Az-Zawayda. His death marked the second journalist killed in under 24 hours.

Al-Derawi had been covering the war’s impact on civilians when the strike occurred. Despite being identified as a press worker, he became yet another casualty in what international media watchdogs are calling a devastating trend. His press vest was placed over his body during his funeral — a somber symbol of the growing dangers faced by journalists in Gaza.

Also killed was Hassan al-Qishaoui, a fellow media worker, as Israeli attacks intensified across various parts of the Gaza Strip. Local reports say both journalists were not involved in combat and were targeted in areas that were considered civilian zones.

The Gaza Government Media Office announced that over 200 journalists have been killed since the war began on October 7, 2023. Advocacy groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), argue that Gaza is now the deadliest place in the world for journalists. CPJ and other organizations have consistently called for independent investigations into these killings, particularly in cases where reporters were not near combat zones.

Meanwhile, the death toll from the January 3 airstrikes alone exceeded 40 Palestinians, including women and children. Hospitals, residential buildings, and refugee camps have also come under fire, despite ongoing ceasefire discussions mediated by Qatar.

The continued deaths of journalists during these escalations have prompted urgent calls from international press freedom organizations. They insist that reporters must be protected under international humanitarian law and that killing them not only silences the truth but deepens the crisis of impunity.

As ceasefire negotiations struggle to gain traction, the loss of media professionals like Al-Derawi and al-Qishaoui underscores the vital role of journalists — and the lethal risks they face — in documenting the human cost of war.