Five journalists killed in Israeli strike near hospital, authorities say
December 26, 2024
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December 26, 2024 – Palestine/Israel –
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.
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