Gaza Journalists Targeted: The Case of Hossam Shabat and the Israeli ‘Hit List’

March 31, 2025 – Palestine/Israel – 

On March 24, 2025, Palestinian journalist Hossam Shabat, a 23-year-old correspondent for Al Jazeera Mubasher and contributor to Drop Site News, was killed in an Israeli airstrike while driving in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza. The Israeli military confirmed the targeted killing, alleging Shabat was affiliated with Hamas, a claim he had previously denied, asserting it was a pretext to justify attacks on journalists.

This incident is part of a broader pattern where Israel has accused Palestinian journalists of militant affiliations without providing verifiable evidence. In October 2024, the Israeli military named six journalists, including Shabat, as members of Hamas or Islamic Jihad, effectively placing them on a “hit list.” These accusations have been criticized by press freedom organizations as lacking substantiation and serving to legitimize the targeting of media personnel.

The day of Shabat’s death also saw the killing of journalist Mohammed Mansour of Palestine Today, along with his wife and son, in an Israeli airstrike on their home in Khan Younis. These events have intensified concerns over the safety of journalists in Gaza, where over 200 media workers have been killed since the escalation of the conflict.

Despite the risks, surviving journalists continue to report on the ground, highlighting the dire humanitarian situation and the impact of the conflict on civilians. Their work is crucial in providing independent information from a region where international media access is severely restricted.

The targeting of journalists like Hossam Shabat underscores the perilous environment for media professionals in conflict zones and raises pressing questions about the protection of press freedom and the accountability of military actions against journalists.

Reference –

https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/gaza-journalists-hit-list-hossam-shabat