Early on Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City claimed the lives of three Palestinian journalists, according to both a media union and an official. This tragic incident unfolded amidst the ongoing heavy fighting, now in its fourth day.

With these recent casualties, the total number of Palestinian journalists killed during the conflict since Saturday has risen to seven, as reported by the Hamas-run media office. The Gaza journalists’ syndicate formally announced the “martyrdom of three journalists in the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing Israeli aggression.”

Identified by Salameh Maarouf, the media chief of Gaza’s Hamas-run government, the victims were Said al-Taweel, the director of Al-Khamisa news agency; press photographer Mohammed Sobboh; and Hisham Nawajhah, a correspondent for a Gaza news agency. Their lives were tragically cut short while covering the evacuation of a residential building near Gaza City’s fishing port. In response to these deaths, Maarouf condemned Israel’s “criminal behavior against journalists.”

Tragically, journalist Asad Shamlakh lost his life on Sunday, as stated by the media office. Additionally, two cameramen were reported missing, and ten journalists have suffered injuries.

The Palestinian statement and the Committee to Protect Journalists confirm that three journalists lost their lives on Saturday. The New York-based media rights group also emphasized that Ibrahim Mohammad Lafi, a photographer; Mohammad Jarghoun, a reporter; and Mohammad El-Salhi were shot and killed in separate incidents.

Sherif Mansour, representing the Committee to Protect Journalists, called upon all parties involved to recognize that journalists are civilians and should not be targeted. He stressed the critical role of accurate reporting during times of crisis, underlining the media’s essential function in bringing news from both Gaza and Israel to the global audience.

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