An Israeli airstrike in Gaza killed five journalists on Thursday when a missile struck their broadcast vehicle in the Nuseirat refugee camp. The journalists were working for Al-Quds Today, a TV channel affiliated with the Islamic Jihad militant group, which has been active alongside Hamas in the ongoing conflict.
The victims were identified as Faisal Abu Al-Qumsan, Ayman Al-Jadi, Ibrahim Al-Sheikh Khalil, Fadi Hassouna, and Mohammed Al-Lada’a. Al-Quds Today described their deaths as a tragedy, stating they were killed “while performing their journalistic and humanitarian duty” and reaffirming their commitment to their media mission.
The Israeli military confirmed the strike, describing the target as an “Islamic Jihad terrorist cell.” It claimed intelligence indicated the individuals were operatives “posing as journalists.” The military added that efforts were made to minimize harm to civilians during the operation.
Witnesses in Nuseirat reported that the missile struck the parked vehicle near Al-Awda Hospital, setting it ablaze and killing everyone inside.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the incident, emphasizing that “journalists are civilians and must always be protected.” The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate has reported the deaths of over 190 journalists and injuries to at least 400 since the outbreak of the conflict.
The war, which began after the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that claimed 1,208 lives, has seen devastating escalation. According to Gaza’s health ministry, over 45,399 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Israeli military operations, with UN agencies considering these figures credible.
