Three journalists among 11 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza
Israeli forces killed at least 11 Palestinians in Gaza on Wednesday, including three journalists whose vehicle was struck in central Gaza. Israel said the strike targeted suspects operating a Hamas-affiliated drone, while journalists’ groups called for an investigation.
- Three Palestinian journalists were among at least 11 killed in an Israeli strike in central Gaza.
- Humanitarian and journalists’ groups said the clearly marked vehicle was on a relief mission and called for an investigation.
- The Committee to Protect Journalists said at least 207 Palestinian journalists have been killed since 2023.
Israeli forces killed at least 11 Palestinians on Wednesday (21 Jan), including three journalists who were struck while travelling in a vehicle in central Gaza, Palestinian health officials said.
The three killed were identified as freelance photographer Abed Shaat, a regular contributor to Agence France-Presse (AFP); Mohammad Qeshta, a spokesperson for the Egyptian Relief Committee who also reported news to a large Telegram following; and Anas Ghnaim, a freelance photographer and drone operator who worked for Smart Media.
Gaza’s Hamas-run Civil Defence agency said the journalists’ car was hit in the al-Zahra area.
They were understood to have been working with an Egyptian relief organisation at the time of the strike.
Medical officials said the bodies of two journalists were taken to al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, while the third was transferred to al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital.
The Israeli military said it ordered the strike after its soldiers identified several suspects operating a drone affiliated with Hamas in central Gaza.
Following the identification and due to the threat that the drone posed to the troops, the Israeli military said it precisely struck the suspects who activated the drone, adding that details of the incident were under examination.
Humanitarian mission claims
The three photojournalists were reportedly working for the Egyptian Relief Committee to document camps for displaced people in the Gaza Strip.
A spokesperson for the humanitarian organisation said the vehicle was clearly marked with its logo and was targeted during a humanitarian mission, resulting in the deaths of three individuals.
Hamas described the strike as a dangerous escalation and a flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement.
Journalists’ groups call for investigation
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate said the killings constituted a war crime and pointed to what it described as a systematic policy aimed at silencing the Palestinian voice, obstructing the transmission of facts, and concealing crimes committed against civilians.
The Syndicate said Israel was fully and directly responsible, adding that a culture of impunity had encouraged further escalation in the targeting of journalists.
It called on the International Criminal Court to open urgent investigations and issue arrest warrants against those responsible, and urged the United Nations, the Human Rights Council and other international bodies to take concrete action beyond statements of condemnation, including providing immediate international protection for Palestinian journalists.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called for a transparent investigation into the incident.
CPJ said Israel, which possesses advanced technology capable of identifying targets, has an obligation under international law to protect journalists.
According to CPJ, at least 207 Palestinian journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza since the latest war began in 2023, including three since a fragile ceasefire came into effect in October.
Since 7 October 2023, Israeli attacks have killed at least 70,373 Palestinians, including at least 20,179 children, according to Gaza’s health authorities.
