Israel, Hamas Attacks:Three Journalists Killed in Israeli Strike in Central Gaza Amid Ceasefire
Three Palestinian journalists were killed on Wednesday after an Israeli airstrike hit their vehicle in central Gaza, raising renewed concerns over the safety of media workers and the fragility of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Gaza’s Hamas-administered Civil Defence agency said the journalists were travelling in a vehicle struck in the al-Zahra area. The victims were identified as Mohammed Salah Qashta, Anas Ghneim, and Abdul Raouf Shaat. They were reportedly working with an Egyptian humanitarian relief organisation and documenting camps for displaced persons at the time of the incident.
A spokesperson for the Egyptian Relief Committee said the vehicle was clearly marked with the organisation’s logo and was on a humanitarian mission, describing the deaths as the “martyrdom of three individuals.”
In a statement, the Israeli military said it had targeted “several suspects operating a drone linked to Hamas in a manner that posed a threat” to its forces, adding that the incident was under review.
The killings came amid continued violence across Gaza. The Hamas-run health ministry said at least eight other people, including two children, were killed on Wednesday by Israeli artillery fire and gunshots in various locations. Medical officials told Reuters that three people, including a 10-year-old boy, died following Israeli tank shelling in central Gaza, while a 13-year-old boy and a woman were killed by Israeli gunfire in Khan Younis in the south.
Earlier, the Israeli military announced that its troops had shot dead a “terrorist who crossed the Yellow Line and approached” them, referring to areas of Gaza that remain under Israeli control under the ceasefire agreement.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, at least 466 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, while the Israeli military said three of its soldiers have died in attacks by Palestinian armed groups during the same period.
Hamas condemned the strike on the journalists, calling it a “dangerous escalation” and a violation of the ceasefire. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate described the incident as a war crime, accusing Israel of pursuing a systematic policy to silence Palestinian journalists and restrict the flow of information.
International organisations also reacted strongly. French news agency AFP expressed deep sorrow over the death of Abdul Raouf Shaat, a regular contributor, and called for a full and transparent investigation. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said it was “appalled” by the killings, noting that Israel has a legal obligation under international law to protect journalists. The CPJ said it has documented at least 206 journalists and media workers killed in Gaza by Israeli fire since the war began, making it the deadliest conflict for journalists on record.
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International media, including the BBC, rely heavily on local journalists in Gaza due to restrictions on independent access for foreign reporters.
The war began after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and led to the abduction of 251 hostages. Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has, according to the territory’s health ministry, resulted in more than 71,550 deaths.
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