Tragedy Strikes Gaza: Three Journalists Killed in Israeli Airstrike

Fri Jan 23 2026 05:33:58 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

An Israeli airstrike in central Gaza claimed the lives of three journalists working on a humanitarian mission, drawing international condemnation and raising questions about the protection of media personnel amid ongoing conflict.

In a tragic incident in central Gaza, three Palestinian journalists were killed during an Israeli airstrike while they were on a humanitarian mission for the Egyptian Relief Committee. The attack has sparked widespread condemnation from media organizations and activists, who emphasize the urgent need to protect journalists in conflict zones. Local health officials reported additional casualties from Israeli fire in Gaza, with the death toll continuing to rise amidst the ongoing conflict.

Three Palestinian journalists have been killed in an Israeli strike in central Gaza, as confirmed by first responders. According to Gaza's Hamas-run Civil Defence agency, their vehicle was targeted in the al-Zahra area. The deceased journalists have been identified as Mohammed Salah Qashta, Anas Ghneim, and Abdul Raouf Shaat, who were reportedly working for an Egyptian relief organization at the time.

The Israeli military stated that the airstrike was aimed at several suspects who operated a drone affiliated with Hamas... in a manner that posed a threat to its troops. They indicated that a review of the incident is currently underway.

On the same day, additional Israeli artillery and gunfire resulted in the deaths of eight others across Gaza, including two children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Medics reported that among the fatalities were a 10-year-old boy and a 13-year-old boy, as well as a woman killed in Khan Younis. The Israeli military confirmed the elimination of a terrorist near the Yellow Line, which marks territory in Gaza still under their control.

Since the ceasefire began on October 10, at least 466 Palestinians have been reported killed, while the Israel Defense Forces noted that three of their soldiers have been killed during the same period by Palestinian armed groups.

The three journalists were specifically in Gaza to document conditions at camps for internally displaced persons. Their car was marked with the logo of the Egyptian Relief Committee and was struck while they were conducting humanitarian work, prompting Hamas to label the strike a dangerous escalation of the flagrant violations of the ceasefire agreement. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate condemned the attack as a war crime, citing systematic efforts to silence the Palestinian voice.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) expressed their deep concern and called for a comprehensive investigation, reminding Israel of its obligation to protect journalists under international law. The CPJ has recorded at least 206 journalists and media workers killed by Israeli fire in Gaza since the onset of the current conflict, marking this as one of the deadliest periods for journalists on record.

International media outlets, including the BBC, have relied on local journalists for reporting from Gaza, owing to restrictions on foreign media access. The ongoing conflict, sparked by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, has resulted in significant loss of life and continuous hardship for civilians trapped in the violence.