One Al Jazeera journalist has died and one other is wounded after what’s believed was an Israeli missile assault at a college in Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Friday.
Gaza bureau chief Wael Dahdouh was injured, however Al Jazeera confirmed the loss of life of cameraperson Samer Abudaqa. Dahdouh, whose spouse, son, daughter and grandson have been killed in an airstrike in October, was wounded by shrapnel in his higher arm and rushed to obtain medical care at Nasser Hospital.
Round 6:30 p.m. native time, an ambulance was dispatched for Abudaqa after it obtained approval from Israeli forces, but it surely needed to flip again as a result of rubble blocked the highway, the information outlet reported. Preparations have been being made to get a bulldozer to clear the trail as of seven:30 p.m., however by the point medical groups acquired to him, he had died.
Abudaqa was the daddy of 4 kids and was a resident of Abasan al-Kabira close to Khan Younis.
Dahdouh, who returned to broadcasting on Saturday, with bandages on his arm and hand, mentioned that he and Abudawa have been with civil protection rescuers who have been working to evacuate a household after their home was bombed when Dahdouh heard an explosion that knocked him out.
Three civil protection crew members have been additionally killed on the faculty, in response to the Palestinian Inside Ministry. Ramy Budair, a journalist with the Palestinian New Press company, was additionally killed.
In a Friday afternoon press launch, the Committee to Shield Journalists mentioned it was deeply saddened by the information and known as on worldwide authorities to conduct an impartial investigation into the assault to carry the perpetrators to account.
In an emailed response to TIME, the Israel Protection Forces mentioned that it takes all operationally possible measures to guard each civilians and journalists. The IDF has by no means, and can by no means, intentionally goal journalists. Given the continuing exchanges of fireside, remaining in an lively fight zone has inherent dangers. The IDF will proceed to counter threats whereas persisting to mitigate hurt to civilians.
On Oct. 25, Dahdouh obtained the information whereas on air that his instant household was killed when the house they have been sheltering in was hit by an airstrike. He returned to work simply days later.
Assaults on one other journalist have been additionally reported on Friday by the Occasions of Israel. Video footage exhibits border law enforcement officials beating Palestinian photojournalist Mustafa Haruf along with his gun in East Jerusalem. Haruf was then repeatedly kicked in his head and physique and is heard crying out in ache.
Haruf says that he was attacked after leaving a prayer protest in Wadi Joz, which Israeli forces later separated.
Border police mentioned that it suspended the officers seen beating Haruf within the video, and is opening an investigation into the assault, the Occasions of Israel provides. An earlier assertion by police indicated that journalists within the space refused to evacuate.
Fridays incident underscored the warfare’s lethal toll on Gazan journalists, who’re striving to outlive the identical risks and deprivations theyre overlaying. Since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 folks and taking greater than 200 hostage, Israelis airstrike marketing campaign and floor offensive in Gaza has killed greater than 18,000 folks, the Hamas-run well being ministry mentioned.
Learn Extra: Palestinian Journalists Provide a Uncommon Glimpse Into Life in Gaza. However for How Lengthy?
At the very least 63 journalists and media employees have additionally died as of Dec. 15, the Committee to Shield Journalists reported. The grim tally contains the deadliest month for journalist deaths in a battle because the group started gathering knowledge in 1992.
Nonprofits have pushed for extra protections for the press. The Worldwide Federation of Journalists mentioned it was deeply shocked to listen to about Fridays accidents. We condemn the assault and reiterate our demand that journalists lives should be safeguarded, it mentioned in a submit on X.
In one of many first press deaths of the warfare, a Reuters video journalist was killed in Lebanon on Oct. 13. A Reporters With out Borders investigation claimed the journalists automobile, with its clear press marking, was focused. The IDF instructed TIME on Nov. 4 that the incident was beneath evaluate. The day earlier than the journalist’s loss of life, that they had requested that the U.N.’s peacekeeping pressure confirm there have been no civilians within the fight zone. They added that coming into fight zones creates an actual and instant hazard to civilian lives.” On that day, the IDF used tank and artillery hearth in response to a missile that hit Israel’s safety fence, the assertion mentioned.
Different journalists from Al Jazeera, whose headquarters are in Qatar, have been injured or killed beforehand whereas overlaying Israel-Palestinian battle. Final yr, a U.N. physique decided that Israeli forces shot and killed Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh within the West Financial institution, not indiscriminate firing by armed Palestinians as initially claimed by Israeli authorities, the worldwide company mentioned.
Extra reporting by Solcyr Burga
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