Two Journalists and a Police Officer Killed in Haiti Hospital Reopening Gang Ambush
December 24, 2024
Afghanistan’s Taliban Regime Intensifies Crackdown on Media in 2024
December 26, 2024
December 26, 2024 – Palestine –
A devastating Israeli airstrike struck a press vehicle belonging to Al‑Quds Today near Al‑Awda Hospital in Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp, killing five Palestinian journalists instantly. The journalists—identified as Fadi Hassouna, Ibrahim al‑Sheikh Ali, Mohammed al‑Ladah, Faisal Abu al‑Qumsan, and Ayman al‑Jadi—were marked as members of the press, with “PRESS” emblazoned on their van.
Witnesses and Gaza medical officials confirmed the strike during early morning Israeli bombardment, a day that saw at least 31 Palestinians killed across Gaza. Relatives and colleagues mourned at Al‑Awda Hospital, laying blue press jackets over their shrouded bodies in a silent protest against the attack. One of the victims, Ayman al‑Jadi, had paused by the hospital, waiting for his wife, who was in labour. Al‑Quds Today described the strike as a “massacre,” pointing out that the journalists were engaged in humanitarian reporting when their lives were cut short.
The Israeli military defended the strike, claiming the targeted vehicle carried Islamic Jihad militants disguised as journalists. They insisted intelligence confirmed an armed cell was inside the van at the moment of the strike. However, Gaza authorities, civil defense teams, and media witnesses disputed the claim, stating the vehicle was marked and performing press duties. Some relief workers on the scene and human rights groups described the action as an intentional targeting of media professionals.
This tragic event has drawn sharp criticism from international press freedom organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders, both condemning the strike as a blatant assault on journalism. Civil defense teams who recovered the bodies confirmed the van was parked and not involved in military activities, deepening concerns over the shelling of non-combatant zones.
The deaths of these five journalists add to a grim pattern in Gaza, where hundreds of media workers have perished since October 2023, many killed while marked as press, demanding urgent calls for independent international investigations and formal accountability for such attacks.
Reference –
Related posts
A Palestinian youth takes pictures with his telephone during an anti-Hamas protest, calling for an end to the war with Israel, in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on March 26, 2025. Demonstrators carrying banners were seen marching in Gaza City and the town of Beit Lahia in the north of the territory, more than a week after the Israeli army resumed its bombing campaign following nearly two months of a truce. (Photo by AFP) / The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by - has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [on March 26, 2025] instead of [on April 26, 2025]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require.
