Three freelance journalists were among five members of the media killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza’s Nasser Hospital earlier today. Photojournalist Mariam Abu Dagger, who contributed to AP and Independent Arabia, died alongside freelancers Ahmed Abu Aziz and Moab Abu Taha, a video journalist. They were killed together with Al Jazeera cameraman Mohammed Salama when an Israeli drone fired a second missile into the hospital. An earlier strike had already killed Hussam Al-Masri, a Reuters contractor operating a live video feed. In total, 20 people were killed in the twin attacks on Khan Younis.
These killings bring to 197 the number of journalists and media workers killed in Gaza since the war began 22 months ago, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Two weeks ago, six other journalists died in a strike on Gaza’s Shifa Hospital.
The Israeli Defence Forces claim they “do not target journalists as such” and “work as much as possible to minimise harm.” The facts suggest the opposite.
Jon Williams, Executive Director of the Rory Peck Trust, said:
“The killing of 11 journalists in 15 days, and the deaths of at least 197 of our colleagues since the start of this war, tells a very different story. Gaza is now the deadliest conflict ever for journalists. Targeting journalists is a war crime. Those responsible must be held to account — Israel’s culture of impunity must end.”