Five journalists were tragically killed in an overnight Israeli strike in Gaza. The journalists were inside a vehicle belonging to Al-Quds Today Television, which was parked outside Al-Awda Hospital when it was hit. The Gaza-based television channel is affiliated with the Palestine Islamic Jihad militant group.
The journalists were sleeping in the vehicle when the strike occurred, as reported by witnesses at the scene. The aftermath of the strike showed the vehicle engulfed in flames, with clear markings indicating it belonged to the press.
Al-Quds Today Television condemned the attack, stating that the journalists were killed while carrying out their journalistic and humanitarian duties.
The Israeli military confirmed the strike, targeting what they claimed was an Islamic Jihad terrorist cell in the area of Nuseirat. However, they did not provide evidence to support their allegations.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that this incident adds to the already high number of journalists and media workers killed in the region. Since October 7th last year, at least 141 journalists have lost their lives, marking it as the deadliest period for journalists since CPJ began collecting data in 1992.
Of the journalists killed, the majority were Palestinians in Gaza, facing significant risks while covering the conflict.
Earlier this month, another journalist, a photojournalist from Al Jazeera, was killed in an Israeli airstrike. The strike targeted an office of the Civil Defense service in central Gaza, resulting in the death of the journalist and four others.
Al Jazeera condemned the attack, highlighting that the journalist was covering a rescue mission by the Civil Defense when he was killed. The Israeli military claimed the site was a Hamas command center and alleged the journalist had ties to Islamic Jihad, without providing evidence to support their claims.
