Hajji Tower airstrike
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (October 2023) |
| Killing of journalists in Gaza–Israel conflict (October 2023) | |
|---|---|
| Part of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war | |
| Location | Gaza strip and its surrounding area |
| Date | October 10, 2023 |
Attack type | Airstrike |
| Deaths | 8[1] |
| Injured | 10[1] |
| Victims | 2 missing[1] |
| Perpetrator | Israeli Defence Forces (per CPJ)[2] |
In early October 2023, following Hamas's rocket attacks and ground offensive into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip, Israeli aircraft bombed a residential building containing offices for journalists, killing at least six journalists who were among the civilians.[3] Prior to the airstrike, several Palestinian journalists had been harassed by Israeli police or killed by unknown assailants since the beginning of the conflict.
Background
The killing of journalists in the Gaza Strip by Israel is a recurring topic. In 2018, an Israeli sniper killed journalist Yaser Murtaja, and in 2021, Israeli aircraft targeted journalist Youssef Abu Hussein at his workplace at Al-Aqsa Radio.
Attacks
The first attacks on journalists by Israeli forces occurred on October 7 in the Israeli city of Ashkelon, which was under attack by Hamas at the time. A television crew working for Sky News Arabia claimed that Israeli police damaged their equipment while they were reporting.[4] That same day, a journalist named Omar Abu Shawish was killed while in the Gaza strip.[5]
Mohammed El Salhi was shot and killed east of the El Burejj refugee camp in central Gaza strip on October 7.[6] While nobody was accused of the killing of El Salhi, journalism organizations urged the IDF to investigate the killing of El Salhi.[6] That same day, Ibrahim Mohamed Lafi, a photographer for Ain Media, was shot while stationed at the Gaza Strip's Erez Crossing into Israel.[7] Mohamed Jarghoun, a photographer for Smart Media, was killed as well.[8]
Ibrahim Qanan, while working for al-Ghad channel, was injured as a result of shrapnel.[3] Two other photographers, Nidal Al Wahidi and Haitham Abdelwahid for Al Najah channel and Ain Media respectively, have been missing since October 7.[3]
October 10 airstrike
On the morning of Tuesday, October 10, 2023, airstrikes carried out by Israel targeted the Hajji Tower on Institutions Street in the Gaza Governorate, resulting in its complete destruction.
Hisham al-Nawajha sustained severe injuries and was admitted to the intensive care unit at Al-Shifa Medical Complex, with his eventual demise being confirmed later.[9] Journalists near the site of the airstrike stated that a nearby building had recently been roof-tapped and evacuated in preparation of an imminent airstrike, but the strike hit another building closer to the journalists.[7]
That same day, Salam Khalil, the head of the Gaza Journalists Syndicate's committee of women journalists, was killed in an Israeli strike, according to Palestinian media.[7]
References
- ^ a b c "Four Palestinian journalists killed in Israel Gaza strikes: Media unions - Region - World - Ahram Online".
- ^ "3 Palestinian journalists killed, 1 injured, 2 missing, in Gaza-Israel conflict". 9 October 2023.
- ^ a b c "3 Palestinian journalists killed, 1 injured, 2 missing, in Gaza-Israel conflict". cpj. October 10, 2023.
- ^ Migiro, Katy (2023-10-09). "3 Palestinian journalists killed, 1 injured, 2 missing, in Gaza-Israel conflict". Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
- ^ Staff, The New Arab (2023-10-10). "Seven Palestinian reporters killed in Israel's Gaza strikes". https://www.newarab.com/. Archived from the original on 2023-10-11. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
{{cite web}}: External link in|website= - ^ a b Migiro, Katy (2023-10-07). "CPJ calls for investigation into killing of Palestinian journalist Mohammad El-Salhi in Gaza". Committee to Protect Journalists. Archived from the original on 2023-10-10. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
- ^ a b c "Four Palestinian journalists killed in Israel Gaza strikes: Media unions". Ahram Online. October 10, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Palestine: Five journalists killed in Gaza so far". ifj. October 10, 2023. Archived from the original on October 10, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
- ^ "Three Palestinian journalists killed in Israel's Gaza strike". newagebd. October 10, 2023. Archived from the original on October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
