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Palestinian Journalists Syndicate Condemns Israeli Restrictions on Gaza Coverage
November 24, 2024
November 23, 2024 – Palestine/Israel –
A Gaza media office confirmed that Wael Ibrahim Abu Quffa, a journalist and lecturer at the Islamic University of Gaza, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on November 23, 2024, raising the number of media professionals killed in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, to 189. Abu Quffa’s death is among the many cases that starkly illustrate the risks Palestinian journalists face in the conflict zone.
This figure aligns with other regional sources, which reported the same toll and emphasized the accumulation of journalists killed since the war began in October 2023. Media networks such as Anadolu Agency and Iran’s Mehr News echoed the count, signaling consistent documentation by Gaza’s own media office.
Previous reports have highlighted that 189 was one among escalating numbers—reporting earlier milestones like 174 on September 30 and 175 by early October—underscoring a grim trend of rising journalist casualties, often during raids on media quarters or areas near press tents.
International press freedom groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders, have condemned these attacks. They report that the Gaza war has become “the deadliest period for journalists in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict since 1992,” and possibly the most lethal conflict for media workers in the 21st century.
The killing of Abu Quffa—a university lecturer—underscores the broad range of media professionals targeted, not limited to frontline correspondents. Media offices accused Israeli forces of responsibility, while Israel often cited security concerns but did not provide clear evidence disproving allegations of militant involvement.
These developments come as ongoing airstrikes in Gaza, particularly in areas like Khan Younis and northern districts, continue to devastate civilian infrastructure, with international agencies warning of mounting humanitarian crises and diminishing humanitarian access.
The death of Wael Ibrahim Abu Quffa highlights the acute vulnerability of journalists reporting under fire. With nearly 200 media workers killed, the conflict’s impact on press freedom and civilian reporting remains deeply troubling, drawing calls from global watchdogs for protection of journalists in Gaza.
Reference –
https://english.palinfo.com/news/2024/11/23/329316/
