Israeli strike kills five journalists – Gaza authorities reported. Journalists were in a vehicle outside a hospital on Thursday. In contrast, the Israeli military asserted that the deceased were members of Islamic Jihad masquerading as media personnel.

Medical sources indicated that these five individuals were part of a larger toll of at least 31 fatalities resulting from Israeli airstrikes throughout the Palestinian territory before dawn, as Hamas and Israel exchanged accusations regarding the stalled ceasefire negotiations following over 14 months of conflict.

The Palestinian Union of Journalists said that five journalists of the Al-Quds Today channel were killed in one of the airstrikes. They were in a broadcast van in front of Al-Awda Hospital. This is a hospital in the Al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. Since the beginning of the war in October 2023, more than 190 Palestinian journalists have been killed by Israeli shelling.

The Gaza-based channel characterized the airstrike as a massacre and declared in a Telegram statement that the five individuals “were killed while fulfilling their media and humanitarian responsibilities.” The channel has consistently featured Islamic Jihad leaders and provided ongoing coverage of the conflict in Gaza.

Israeli strike kills five journalists – reports

The Israeli military maintained that it “executed a precise strike on a vehicle containing an Islamic Jihad terrorist cell in the Nuseirat area”. Subsequently, it released a statement identifying the five crew members and asserting.

“Intelligence from multiple sources confirmed that these individuals were Islamic Jihad operatives posing as journalists.” Israel has consistently denied targeting journalists and claims to take measures to prevent civilian casualties.

The Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad group, an ally of Hamas, has engaged in multiple confrontations with Israel over the past two decades. Its fighters have participated in the ongoing conflict since October 2023. The group condemned the killing of the five men in a statement but did not acknowledge any of them as members. Later on Thursday, health officials reported that five medical personnel, including a pediatrician, were also killed by Israeli fire at Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya. It is located in the northern region.

Israel does not comment

There was no response from Israeli officials regarding the deaths of the medics.

According to local authorities, they had defied military orders to evacuate the hospital since the onset of the new ground offensive nearly three months ago. The Israeli military, which stated on Wednesday that the hospital was situated in the midst of intense fighting, reiterated the evacuation orders three days prior, as reported by medics in Gaza.

Israeli campaign against Hamas

The ongoing Israeli campaign against Hamas in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of over 45,300 Palestinians, as per health officials in the Hamas-controlled territory. The majority of the 2.3 million residents have been displaced, and extensive areas of Gaza lie in ruins. The conflict was ignited by Hamas’ assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals and the abduction of 251 others to Gaza, according to Israeli sources.

Funerals

Footage from the site of Thursday’s incident depicted the mangled remains of a white van, with what seemed to be the remnants of the word “PRESS” in red on its rear doors. Later that day, numerous relatives and fellow journalists attended the funerals of the five journalists, whose bodies were enveloped in white shrouds. Blue flak jackets inscribed with the word “PRESS” were placed atop the shrouded remains.

“The Israeli army justifies or excuses this targeting by asserting it is directed at individuals affiliated with Palestinian organizations and cells. However, in reality, these individuals were engaged in journalistic activities, situated in press vehicles, and covering events,” remarked Abed Meqdad, a correspondent for Al-Araby TV channel, during the funerals.

Women mourned beside the bodies as men conducted special prayers prior to the burials.
“May God take revenge on them, may God take revenge on them. He is the one who reports the news and exposes the crimes to the world; this is how they treat them,” lamented the mother of Fadi Hassouna, one of the deceased journalists.

In its annual report, the organization Reporters Without Borders indicated that Gaza is the most perilous region for journalists globally, primarily due to killings perpetrated by the Israeli military. Medics in the enclave reported that 13 additional individuals were also affected.

Medical personnel in the enclave reported that an Israeli airstrike on a residence in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City resulted in the deaths of 13 individuals and left 25 others injured. They indicated that the death toll may increase as numerous people remain trapped beneath the debris.

In a separate incident in Gaza City, an Israeli strike on a home in the Sabra suburb claimed the lives of an additional eight individuals, according to medical sources, raising the total number of fatalities on Thursday to 31.

On Wednesday, Hamas and Israel exchanged accusations regarding their inability to finalize a ceasefire agreement, despite indications of progress from both parties in recent days.

Hamas asserted that Israel had imposed additional conditions, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the organization of deviating from previously established understandings.

“The occupation has introduced new stipulations concerning withdrawal, ceasefire, the status of prisoners, and the repatriation of displaced persons, which has hindered the achievement of the agreement that was within reach,” Hamas stated.

In response, Netanyahu issued a statement asserting, “The Hamas terrorist organization continues to spread falsehoods, is backtracking on agreements that have already been made, and is perpetuating obstacles in the negotiations.”