Israeli Airstrike on Gaza Hospital Claims Lives of Three Journalists
The attack has triggered widespread condemnation from media rights organizations and highlights the ongoing risks faced by journalists in conflict zones.
An Israeli airstrike on the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in central Gaza resulted in the deaths of three journalists and left four others injured.
The incident occurred in the hospital's courtyard, igniting swift condemnations from various media rights groups.
According to the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, the strike struck a media tent on the hospital grounds.
The deceased have been identified as Ismail Badah, a cameraman for Palestine Today TV, affiliated with the Islamic Jihad militant group; Soliman Hajaj, an editor for the same network; and Samir A-Refai, a reporter from the Shams News network.
The airstrike also resulted in injuries to approximately 30 individuals, including four journalists, with some reported to be in critical condition.
Notably, among the injured are Imad Daloul, a correspondent for Palestine Today, and Ahmed Qalja, a cameraman for the Qatar-based Al-Araby TV.
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate condemned the attack as a “full-fledged war crime,” asserting that it reflects a systematic effort to silence the Palestinian narrative.
The syndicate described the targeting of journalists at a hospital as a grave violation of both international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions.
The Israeli military, however, stated that the strike was aimed at an Islamic Jihad terrorist allegedly operating a command-and-control center within the hospital’s yard.
The military did not provide further details or evidence to support its claims.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also condemned the attack.
Regional director Sara Qudah called for international intervention to cease what she described as Israel's targeting of journalists based on unsubstantiated terrorism allegations.
She characterized these incidents as part of a disturbing and systematic pattern of attacks against the media in the region, underscoring the intensified dangers faced by journalists working in Gaza, especially on significant days such as Yawm Al-Arafah, which precedes the major Islamic holiday of Eid Al-Adha.
The incident occurred in the hospital's courtyard, igniting swift condemnations from various media rights groups.
According to the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, the strike struck a media tent on the hospital grounds.
The deceased have been identified as Ismail Badah, a cameraman for Palestine Today TV, affiliated with the Islamic Jihad militant group; Soliman Hajaj, an editor for the same network; and Samir A-Refai, a reporter from the Shams News network.
The airstrike also resulted in injuries to approximately 30 individuals, including four journalists, with some reported to be in critical condition.
Notably, among the injured are Imad Daloul, a correspondent for Palestine Today, and Ahmed Qalja, a cameraman for the Qatar-based Al-Araby TV.
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate condemned the attack as a “full-fledged war crime,” asserting that it reflects a systematic effort to silence the Palestinian narrative.
The syndicate described the targeting of journalists at a hospital as a grave violation of both international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions.
The Israeli military, however, stated that the strike was aimed at an Islamic Jihad terrorist allegedly operating a command-and-control center within the hospital’s yard.
The military did not provide further details or evidence to support its claims.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also condemned the attack.
Regional director Sara Qudah called for international intervention to cease what she described as Israel's targeting of journalists based on unsubstantiated terrorism allegations.
She characterized these incidents as part of a disturbing and systematic pattern of attacks against the media in the region, underscoring the intensified dangers faced by journalists working in Gaza, especially on significant days such as Yawm Al-Arafah, which precedes the major Islamic holiday of Eid Al-Adha.