Since the start of the Hamas-Israel war, at least 21 journalists have lost their lives, with the majority occurring during Israel’s attacks on Gaza, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says.
Data from CPJ shows that as of Thursday, 17 Palestinian, three Israeli, and one Lebanese journalist had died following the outbreak of hostilities when Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7.
These fatalities were further exacerbated by ongoing bombardments in Gaza by Israel.
“CPJ emphasises that journalists are civilians doing important work during times of crisis and must not be targeted by warring parties,” Sherif Mansour, the CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa programme coordinator said.
“Journalists across the region are making great sacrifices to cover this heartbreaking conflict. All parties must take steps to ensure their safety.”
Notable among these tragic incidents are the deaths of journalists such as Saeed Al-Taweel, Mohammed Sobh, and Hisham Alnwajha, who were killed on October 9 during an Israeli airstrike on an area housing several media outlets in the Rimal district of western Gaza.
Freelance journalist Assaad Shamlakh and nine members of his family also perished in an Israeli airstrike on their home in the southern Gaza Strip’s Sheikh Ijlin neighborhood.
Salam Mema, the head of the Women Journalists Committee at the Palestinian Media Assembly, was confirmed dead on October 13 after her home in the Jabalia camp in northern Gaza was struck by an Israeli airstrike on October 10.
Tragically, journalists Shai Regev, Ayelet Arnin, and Yaniv Zohar lost their lives on October 7 during the Hamas attack on Israel, as reported by Israel National News.
Issam Abdallah, a videographer for Reuters, was killed in a shelling attack near the Lebanon border from the direction of Israel.
In addition to the fatalities, eight other journalists have been reported as injured in the ongoing conflict, and three journalists have been listed as missing or detained.
Due to the ongoing hostilities, journalists from outside the area have been unable to enter Gaza, as the sole entry point for journalists, Israel’s Erez crossing, remains closed after being attacked during the assault. This has had a significant impact on the ability to report from the region.
It comes after more than 500 Palestinians were killed at Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City following an Israeli airstrike this week, Gaza’s health ministry said.
Prior to this, more than 1,400 people in Israel lost their lives, and 3,400 were injured when Hamas launched a surprise attack by air, land, and sea on October 7, according to sources.
In Gaza, there have been at least 2,778 casualties from Israeli counterattacks, with another 9,938 people getting injured, as reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Health. These numbers are expected to increase.
US President Joe Biden is set to deliver a crucial Oval Office address on Thursday, making a direct appeal to the American people to sustain funding for Ukraine and Israel as both nations grapple with their ongoing war efforts.
This primetime address is strategically timed to precede a significant request by the White House to Congress for over $100 billion in aid and resources aimed at bolstering Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and fortifying the US-Mexico border.
In his address, President Biden is anticipated to emphasise the pivotal role of supporting Ukraine and Israel in upholding U.S. national security interests during a critical juncture in global affairs.
