An Israeli army press statement on December 26 tried to justify a war crime. It openly admitted that the military attacked and killed five Palestinian journalists in a clearly marked press vehicle outside al-Awda Hospital in the Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip.
The victims were Ibrahim Sheikh Ali, Faisal Abu al-Qumsan, Mohammed al-Ladaa, Fadi Hassouna, and Ayman al-Gedi. Ayman was at the hospital with his wife who was about to give birth, but he was visiting his colleagues in the vehicle when it was hit. His son was born later that day and was named after his father who couldn’t be there to celebrate.
The Israeli army statement alleged that the five Palestinians were “operatives posing as journalists” because they worked for Al-Quds Al-Youm TV, linked to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement. No evidence was provided that they were carrying weapons or engaged in armed activities.
Despite international laws protecting journalists, the Israeli army has been targeting and killing Palestinian journalists. According to various sources, over 200 journalists have been killed in Gaza since October 2023.
Media organizations like the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders have condemned Israel’s actions, calling it a “bloodbath” and listing it as one of the top “jailers of journalists”.
It is time for the international media to hold Israel accountable for its actions and not blindly accept its narrative of a defensive war within the bounds of international law. Solidarity with Palestinian journalists is crucial to demand justice and prevent further attacks on media workers.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.
