Gaza: The death of five more journalists in an Israeli double strike on Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza has raised questions on safety of journalists and press freedom across the world. The deceased journalists—working for the international media—are among 20 people who have died in the deadly Israeli strikes, as claimed by southern Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.
Though Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the incident a “tragic mishap” and said military authorities were “conducting a thorough investigation”, the attack on civilians has drawn condemnation from world leaders as well as journalist groups. Among the latest victims are Hossam Al-Masri, who worked as a photojournalist with Reuters; Mohammed Salama, an Al Jazeera photojournalist; Mariam Abu Daqqa, a freelance journalist with Associated Press and other houses; Moaz Abu Taha, another freelance journalist with several news organisations including Reuters; and Ahmad Abu Aziz, again a freelancer with Quds Feed Network.
Gaza war, the deadliest conflicts for the press: What numbers say?
The latest deaths bring the number of journalists killed in Gaza since the start of the war there in October 2023 to nearly 200, the BBC reported.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), more press members were killed in Gaza war in the past two years than the worldwide press fatalities in the prior three years.
Some journalists have been taken into Gaza by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) under controlled access, the BBC claimed. Such has been the vulnerability that several international media outlets rely on local reporters for much of their coverage in Gaza.
Looking back at 2024-23 press casualties
Despite atrocities on journalists elsewhere, the Israeli strikes have been a major contributor to the rising fatalities of press persons. At least 124 journalists were killed internationally in 2024, 70% of which were linked to Israeli strikes, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists’ 2024 Killed Report, as reported by HuffPost. In 2023, the toll was 128 worldwide. This led to 2023 being recorded as among the five deadliest years since the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) began its Killed List in 1990.
The Gaza Strip accounted for nearly 50% of journalists killed worldwide in 2024, leading to 64 casualties, the IFJ report stated. This figure is disturbing for the small 360 square kilometre territory, which had just over two million inhabitants in 2022, according to the IFJ report. If another report the published by CPJ is taken into account, the toll of conflict on the press in Gaza is more. They claim 85 journalists and press workers died in 2024 in Gaza, against 78 in 2023.
According to the UNESCO Observatory, about 1, 805 journalists have been killed since 1993 across the world.
How have world leaders reacted to Israel’s ‘double-strikes’ on journalists in Gaza?
1) US President Donald Trump: “When did this happen?…I didn’t know that. Well, I’m not happy about it. I don’t want to see it. At the same time, we have to end that whole nightmare.”
2) French President Emmanuel Macron: “This is intolerable: civilians and journalists must be protected in all circumstances. The media must be able to carry out their mission freely and independently to cover the reality of the conflict.”
3) Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “In a statement on Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that the occupation forces’ targeting of journalists and relief and medical workers requires urgent and decisive international action to provide the necessary protection for civilians and ensure that the perpetrators of these atrocities do not escape punishment.”
4) United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric: “The Secretary-General strongly condemns the killing of Palestinians today in Israeli strikes that hit Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Those killed in addition to civilians included medical personnel and journalists. These latest horrific killings highlight the extreme risks that medical personnel and journalists face as they carry out their vital work amid this brutal conflict. They must be respected and protected at all times. He calls for a prompt, and impartial investigation into these killings.”
5) Canada’s Foreign Ministry: “Canada is horrified by the Israeli military strike at the Nasser Hospital in Gaza, which killed 5 journalists and many civilians, including rescuers and health officials. Such attacks are unacceptable.”
