An Israeli airstrike on Thursday targeted a broadcast truck belonging to Al-Quds Today, a Palestinian TV channel affiliated with the Islamic Jihad movement. The attack, which occurred in Gaza’s Nuseirat camp, killed five media workers.
The deceased journalists were identified as:
- Faisal Abu Al-Qumsan
- Ayman Al-Jadi
- Ibrahim Al-Sheikh Khalil
- Fadi Hassouna
- Mohammed Al-Lada’a
The TV channel condemned the strike, stating that the victims were “performing their journalistic and humanitarian duty.”
Israel’s Response
In a statement, the Israeli military described the strike as a “precise operation” targeting a terrorist cell within the vehicle. They asserted that multiple measures, including aerial surveillance and intelligence checks, were taken to minimize civilian casualties.
Eyewitness Accounts
Eyewitnesses in Nuseirat reported that a missile fired by an Israeli aircraft struck the broadcast truck while it was parked outside Al-Awda Hospital. The impact set the vehicle ablaze and killed all five occupants.
Media Casualties in the Gaza Conflict
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate revealed that over 190 journalists have been killed and at least 400 injured since the Gaza conflict escalated on October 7, 2023.
Conflict Context
The current violence traces back to Hamas’s October 7 attack last year, which left 1,208 Israelis dead, primarily civilians. In response, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza that has resulted in over 45,361 deaths, with a majority being civilians, according to figures from Gaza’s health ministry.
Global Reactions
The airstrike has drawn criticism from global media organizations, with calls for investigations into attacks targeting journalists. Al-Quds Today vowed to continue its operations, stating, “We affirm our commitment to our resistant media message.”
