Five journalists were killed in an overnight Israeli strike in Gaza. The vehicle, belonging to Al-Quds Today Television, was hit while parked outside Al-Awda Hospital. The Gaza-based television channel is affiliated with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group. The journalists were sleeping in the vehicle when the strike occurred.
Al-Quds Today Television condemned the attack, stating that the journalists were killed while performing their journalistic and humanitarian duty. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed the strike and claimed that the individuals killed were members of the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization.
The Committee to Protect Journalists reported that at least 141 journalists and media workers have been killed in the region since October 7th last year, making it the deadliest period for journalists in decades. The majority of the casualties were Palestinians in Gaza, facing high risks while covering the conflict.
Earlier this month, an Al Jazeera photojournalist was killed in a separate Israeli airstrike in Gaza. The strike targeted an office of the Civil Defense service, resulting in casualties. Al Jazeera condemned the attack, highlighting the dangers journalists face while covering rescue missions in conflict zones.
The Israeli military defended its actions, claiming the targeted sites were being used by militant groups and alleging that the journalists killed had ties to terrorist organizations. However, no concrete evidence was provided to support these allegations.
