Mahdi Al‑Mamluk: Palestinian Journalist Fatally Shot Near School in Gaza

November 12, 2024 – Palestine/Israel –

Palestinian journalist Mahdi Al-Mamluk, a news manager at Wataneya Satellite Channel, was killed by Israeli gunfire while covering the humanitarian situation near a school-turned-shelter in the Nuseirat area of central Gaza. According to eyewitness accounts and media reports, Al-Mamluk was inside a vehicle marked as press when Israeli forces targeted it. He was reportedly shot multiple times and died on the scene.

Al-Mamluk’s death has sparked condemnation from international press freedom organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), which confirmed his killing and added his name to the growing list of media workers slain in Gaza during the ongoing conflict. The CPJ noted that Al-Mamluk was engaged in non-combatant, humanitarian reporting at the time and had visible press identification, making him a protected civilian under international humanitarian law.

The Palestinian Information Center reported that Al-Mamluk had been documenting the conditions faced by displaced families sheltering in a school facility—an increasingly common refuge as Israeli airstrikes intensify across the Strip. His vehicle, marked with “TV” insignia, was reportedly struck without warning. Al-Mamluk’s colleagues and emergency responders were unable to save him.

His killing is emblematic of the growing toll the conflict has taken on journalists in Gaza. According to CPJ and Stop Murdering Journalists, Al-Mamluk was the 209th journalist listed on their memorial site, and one of dozens killed in Gaza since the start of intensified hostilities in October 2023. Advocacy groups argue that many of these killings appear to be intentional or reckless, despite the journalists’ clear identification and non-combatant status.

Mahdi Al-Mamluk was known for his commitment to frontline reporting and for highlighting the civilian cost of war. His work focused on giving voice to the voiceless, particularly in marginalized and besieged communities. His death not only silences a critical witness to unfolding humanitarian conditions but also sends a chilling message to other journalists risking their lives to report the truth from conflict zones.

Press freedom organizations are calling for an independent investigation into Al-Mamluk’s death, emphasizing the urgent need to hold perpetrators accountable and ensure the protection of journalists under international law.

Reference – 

https://stopmurderingjournalists.com/martyrs/mahdi-al-mamluk-209

Mahdi Al-Mamluk

https://english.palinfo.com/news/2024/11/12/328615/