Tragic Loss: Three Journalists Killed in Israeli Airstrike in Gaza

Sun Feb 01 2026 10:52:46 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

An Israeli airstrike in central Gaza has claimed the lives of three Palestinian journalists, drawing international condemnation and raising concerns about the safety of journalists in conflict zones.

In a devastating incident in Gaza, an Israeli strike has reportedly killed three Palestinian journalists who were working on a humanitarian mission for an Egyptian relief organization. The attack, which also resulted in the deaths of several others, has prompted outrage from media organizations and humanitarian groups, highlighting the escalating violence in the region and the risks faced by journalists covering the ongoing conflict.

Three Palestinian journalists have been killed in an Israeli strike in central Gaza, first responders say.

The Gaza's Hamas-run Civil Defence agency reported that their car was hit in the al-Zahra area, identifying the victims as Mohammed Salah Qashta, Anas Ghneim, and Abdul Raouf Shaat. They were working for an Egyptian relief organization at the time.

The Israeli military stated that they targeted several suspects who operated a drone affiliated with Hamas... in a manner that posed a threat to their troops, claiming the incident is under review.

A total of eight people, including two children, were reported killed due to Israeli artillery and gunfire across Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry on the same day.

Furthermore, reports mention that three individuals, including a 10-year-old boy, were killed by Israeli tank fire in central Gaza, while a 13-year-old boy and a woman lost their lives in Khan Younis due to Israeli gunfire.

The three journalists were reportedly engaged in filming camps for displaced people and were targeted in a marked vehicle during their humanitarian mission, as per a spokesperson for the Egyptian Relief Committee.

Humanitarian organization Hamas characterized the attack as a dangerous escalation of violations against the ceasefire agreement. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate called the strike a war crime, asserting it demonstrated a systematic policy by Israel aimed at suppressing the Palestinian voice.

International organizations, such as the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), expressed grave concern over the safety of journalists operating in conflict zones, reminding that Israel has an obligation under international law to safeguard them.

Since the onset of conflict following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, at least 466 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to local health officials, while the Israeli military reported three of its soldiers were killed by Palestinian armed groups.