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April 08, 2025 – Palestine –
On April 7, 2025, an Israeli airstrike hit a tent used by journalists near the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, killing two journalists and injuring at least eight others. The targeted tent was part of a press camp set up by local and international journalists reporting on the ongoing conflict. Witnesses said the area was marked and known to host media workers, making the strike especially alarming.
Journalist Hilmi al-Faqawi, who worked for Palestine Today TV, was killed instantly in the blast. His colleague, Ahmed Mansour, suffered severe burns and later died from his injuries. Others wounded in the attack included Al Jazeera cameraman Mahmoud Awad. One journalist was reportedly burned alive inside the tent. The attack not only caused immediate casualties but also destroyed valuable equipment used by the press.
The Israeli military later confirmed the strike, claiming it targeted Hassan Eslaiah, a journalist they alleged had ties to Hamas and participated in the October 7, 2023, attacks. Eslaiah was injured and died shortly afterward. However, international media and human rights organizations questioned the legitimacy of the claim and stressed that even if true, the strike endangered numerous civilians, especially journalists engaged in reporting.
This incident adds to an already devastating toll on media workers in Gaza. Since the escalation of the conflict in October 2023, over 220 journalists have been killed, making it one of the deadliest periods for the press in modern conflict history. Press freedom groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, condemned the April 7 airstrike, urging independent investigations into potential violations of international law.
The targeting of journalists continues to draw widespread condemnation from global rights groups and governments. They argue that the lack of accountability and ongoing danger to reporters undermine the critical role of the press in documenting war crimes and humanitarian crises. As fighting persists, the safety of media workers in Gaza remains a pressing concern.
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