Three Palestinian journalists have been killed in an Israeli strike in central Gaza, first responders say.
Gaza's Hamas-run Civil Defence agency stated their car was targeted in the al-Zahra area, identifying the victims as Mohammed Salah Qeshta, Anas Ghunaim, and Abdul Raouf Shaath, who were associated with an Egyptian relief organization.
The Israeli military claimed they had struck several suspects who operated a drone affiliated with Hamas, stating it posed a threat to their forces. This incident is currently under investigation.
The strike did not only claim these three lives; it was reported that an additional eight individuals, including two children, were also killed across Gaza on the same day, according to the health ministry.
Medics described how three casualties, including a 10-year-old boy, were victims of Israeli tank fire, with another 13-year-old boy and a woman killed by gunfire in Khan Younis.
The humanitarian efforts of the journalists were highlighted, with a spokesperson indicating they were targeted while working on a legitimate mission, as their vehicle displayed the organization’s logo.
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate condemned the airstrike as a war crime, evidencing a systematic attempt to silence the Palestinian narrative. The Committee to Protect Journalists noted that this marks a significant moment in one of the deadliest conflicts for journalists, with at least 206 documented deaths among the media in Gaza since the war began.
The war erupted following a Hamas-led attack on Israel, resulting in thousands of casualties and ongoing international concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
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