Three Palestinian journalists have been killed in an Israeli strike in central Gaza, first responders report. The Hamas-run Civil Defence agency identified the victims as Mohammed Salah Qeshta, Anas Ghunaim, and Abdul Raouf Shaath, who were reportedly engaged in work for an Egyptian relief organization.
The Israeli military stated that the strike targeted individuals they alleged operated a drone affiliated with Hamas, claiming the operation posed a threat to their troops. The situation continues to be under investigation.
Further details revealed that the incident was part of a broader wave of violence, with reports indicating that eight additional people, including two children, lost their lives due to Israeli artillery and gunfire throughout Gaza on the same day.
Families and communities mourn the loss of their loved ones, as medics reported that three were killed in separate incidents of tank fire in central Gaza and gunfire in Khan Younis. In response to the escalating death toll, the humanitarian organization for which the journalists worked stated that their vehicle, marked with the organization’s logo, was attacked while on a humanitarian mission.
Reactions to the strike have been swift, with Hamas condemning it as a dangerous escalation and the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate labeling it a war crime. Reports indicate a grim toll on the press in Gaza, with the Committee to Protect Journalists recording at least 206 journalists having been killed since the conflict's escalation began, highlighting the dire circumstances faced by media personnel in war zones.
As the conflict rages on, the implications of such events draw attention to the complex dynamics of press freedom and safety, particularly in areas like Gaza where independent reporting is severely restricted.
