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Middle East Eye
3 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Israeli strike on al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City kills journalists
At least three Palestinian journalists were killed in Israeli strikes targeting a group of media workers in Gaza City's al-Ahli Arab hospital's courtyard, local reporters told Middle East Eye. According to local sources, the attack on Thursday morning came with no prior warning of the bombing. The Israeli assault has so far claimed the lives of correspondent Suleiman Hajjaj and photographer Ismail Badah, who both worked for Palestine Today TV, alongside photographer Samir al-Rifai, who worked for the Shams News Agency. Journalist Imad Daloul, who works for Palestine Today TV, and photographer Ahmed Qaljah, who works for Al-Arabiya TV, were also critically injured in the Israeli attack and have been rushed to the intensive care unit. Footage online shows bodies scattered across the courtyards of the Al-Ahli Hospital, otherwise known as the Baptist Hospital, as Palestinians attempt to aid one another. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Reporters told MEE that Israeli warplanes targeted the hospital's courtyards as journalists were covering the events on the ground. Hamas released a statement condemning a "new war crime" by Israel. "This is part of a systematic Zionist policy targeting Palestinian journalists to silence their voices, deter them from covering the occupation's crimes in Gaza, and obliterate its just narrative of the enemy's horrific crimes against our Palestinian people," the group said. "This crime constitutes a complex war crime, as it assassinated journalists protected under the Geneva Conventions and all international conventions, and bombed a civilian hospital protected under international law. "This reflects the insistence of the criminal government of Benjamin Netanyahu to expand the scope of its crimes of genocide against the Palestinian people and its blatant disregard for the international community and its legal and humanitarian system." 'Worst-ever conflict' for journalists Thursday's killing of journalists is the latest in a wave of deadly Israeli attacks on Palestinian media workers. The Israeli war on Gaza has been described by monitoring groups as the "worst-ever conflict" for journalists, due to the record number of media workers killed - at least 225 in 2o months. Israel's war on Gaza 'worst ever conflict' for journalists: Report Read More » According to a report published last month by the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, Israel's war on Gaza since October 2023 has "killed more journalists than the US Civil War, World Wars I and II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War (including the conflicts in Cambodia and Laos), the wars in Yugoslavia in the 1990s and 2000s, and the post-9/11 war in Afghanistan, combined". "In 2023, a journalist or media worker was, on average, killed or murdered every four days. In 2024, it was once every three days," said the report. "Most reporters harmed or killed, as is the case in Gaza, are local journalists." The Israeli military has frequently justified its attacks on civilian sites in Gaza, including hospitals, by alleging that Hamas uses them for military operations. The latest Israeli assault brings the number of journalists killed since 7 October 2023 to 225, Arab48 reported. Overall, Israeli forces have killed more than 54,607 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war and wounded 125,341 others.
Euronews
3 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Three journalists killed in Israeli strikes on a hospital in Gaza
At least 10 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza's southern city Khan Younis overnight into Thursday, according to Nasser Hospital, which received the bodies. It was not immediately clear if the strikes were related to the recovery mission overnight of the bodies of two hostages. Among those killed in the strikes were three local journalists. They were targeted in an attack on the courtyard of the al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, also injuring half-a-dozen others, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The Israeli military said it was looking into reports on the strike at al-Ahli and suggested that its officials may launch an investigation into the allegations. The army says it only targets militants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas because it is embedded in populated areas. Over 180 journalists and media workers have been killed since the start of Israel's military campaign, the vast majority of them in Gaza, according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists. Israel has said many of those killed in its strikes were militants 'posing as reporters'. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate condemned what it described as Israel's continued systematic and deliberate targeting of journalists. In a statement, the union said that the ongoing Israeli aggression has so far claimed the lives of 225 journalists and media workers, including 30 female journalists. They've also identified the late journalists as Ismail Bdaih, Suleiman Hajjaj, and Samir Al-Rifai. The group has accused Israel of continuing a policy of 'enforced disappearance' against Palestinian journalists, citing the ongoing lack of information regarding the fate of two missing reporters — Nidal Al-Wahidi and Haitham Abdul-Wahed — whose cases the union described as 'clear instances of enforced disappearance in violation of international law.' Israel has come under fire recently for its targeting of journalists and conduct of war. Various global media houses and well known broadcasters have slammed Netanyahu's government for not allowing independent international media into Gaza to report and investigate. Israel says the decision to not allow journalists access into the enclave was for safety reasons, adding that they cannot ensure the safety of journalists once they've entered. Those claims were however dismissed, as various international media outlets have pledged to organise their own security protocol and arrangements. Various groups, including Reporters Without Borders, have accused Israel of attempting to control the narrative and silence the facts by not allowing free press inside Gaza to conduct their own research and show the conditions on the ground. More than 1.5 million foreign pilgrims are in Saudi Arabia for this year's Hajj, according to a Saudi government spokesperson. Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, a religious obligation involving rituals and acts of worship that every Muslim must fulfil at least once in their lifetime, if they have the money and are physically able to do it. Hajj Ministry spokesperson Ghassan Al-Nuwaimi provided an approximate number for foreigners at this year's pilgrimage. He did not say how many domestic pilgrims were taking part. Last year, there were 1,611,310 pilgrims from outside the country. It's almost 160,000 fewer pilgrims than last year and a far cry from the pre-pandemic boom, when attendance would regularly push past 2 million. There was a record-breaking Hajj in 2012, when more than 3.16 million Muslims took part. On Wednesday, pilgrims streamed into Arafat, some making the journey on foot, carrying their luggage through temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). People paused to sit on the ground to rest or eat before heading to their camps. Mount Arafat, a rocky hill southeast of Mecca, holds immense significance in Islam. Arafat is mentioned in the Quran and it is where the Prophet Muhammad – Peace be upon him – is said to have given his last sermon on his final Hajj. According to traditional sayings of the prophet, the Day of Arafat is the most sacred day of the year, when God draws near to the faithful and forgives their sins. Pilgrims remain in Arafat, in prayer and reflection, from after midnight until after sunset. After sun down on Thursday, pilgrims headed to the desert plain of Muzdalifah to collect pebbles, which they will use in a ritual. Saudi Arabia has spent billions of dollars on crowd control and safety measures, but the mass of participants makes ensuring their safety difficult. One of the greatest challenges at the Hajj in recent years has been the heat. Earlier in the week, Health Minister Fahad bin Abdulrahman Al-Jalajel revealed that 10,000 trees have been planted to provide more shade as a governmental initiative to protect people from heat related medical emergencies. He also added that bed capacities at hospitals were greatly increased, and the number of paramedics and medical professionals has tripled.
Saba Yemen
3 days ago
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
PJPC condemns Israeli enemy's assassination of three journalists at Al Maamadani Hospital
Gaza - Saba: The Palestinian Journalists Protection Center (PJPC) condemned the heinous crime committed by the Israeli enemy army on Thursday, which resulted in the martyrdom of three journalists and the injury of others, one of whom is in critical condition, as a result of direct shelling targeting them in the courtyard of Al Maamadani Hospital in Gaza City. The center said in a statement, "This brutal attack killed colleagues: Suleiman Hajjaj and Ismail Badah, both working for Palestine Today TV, and Samir Al-Rifai, who works for Shams News Agency." The center emphasized that this crime comes within the context of a systematic and ongoing campaign targeting journalists and media workers in the Gaza Strip, in a clear attempt to silence the truth and prevent the transmission of the tragic humanitarian situation facing Palestinians. The center emphasized that the continued targeting of Palestinian journalists reaffirms that the Gaza Strip has become the most dangerous place in the world for journalists, amidst a disturbing international silence and the failure of relevant institutions to take serious steps to protect them. The center renewed its urgent call to the international community, the United Nations, and international human rights organizations to take immediate action to halt the systematic killing of Palestinian journalists, provide urgent international protection for them, and prevent the use of military force to obstruct their professional and humanitarian work. The center considered what happened to constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions, and requires the opening of an independent international investigation and the holding accountable of all those responsible for this crime. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
Middle East Eye
4 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Israeli strike on Al Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City kills four journalists
At least four Palestinian journalists were killed in Israeli strikes targeting a group of media workers in Gaza City's Al Ahli Arab hospital's courtyard, local reporters told Middle East Eye. According to local sources, the attack on Thursday morning came with no prior warning of the bombing. The Israeli assault has so far claimed the lives of correspondent Suleiman Hajjaj and photographer Ismail Badah, who both worked for Palestine Today TV, alongside photographers Samir al-Rifai, who worked for the Shams News Agency, and Ahmed Qaljah, who worked for Al-Arabiya TV. Journalist Imad Daloul, who works for Palestine Today TV, was also critically injured in the Israeli attack and has been rushed to the intensive care unit. Footage online shows bodies scattered across the courtyards of the Al Ahli Hospital, otherwise known as the Baptist Hospital, as Palestinians attempt to aid one another. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Reporters told MEE that Israeli warplanes targeted the hospital's courtyards as journalists were covering the events on the ground. Hamas released a statement condemning a "new war crime" by Israel. "This is part of a systematic Zionist policy targeting Palestinian journalists to silence their voices, deter them from covering the occupation's crimes in Gaza, and obliterate its just narrative of the enemy's horrific crimes against our Palestinian people," the group said. "This crime constitutes a complex war crime, as it assassinated journalists protected under the Geneva Conventions and all international conventions, and bombed a civilian hospital protected under international law. "This reflects the insistence of the criminal government of Benjamin Netanyahu to expand the scope of its crimes of genocide against the Palestinian people and its blatant disregard for the international community and its legal and humanitarian system." 'Worst-ever conflict' for journalists Thursday's killing of journalists is the latest in a wave of deadly Israeli attacks on Palestinian media workers. The Israeli war on Gaza has been described by monitoring groups as the "worst-ever conflict" for journalists, due to the record number of media workers killed - at least 225 in 2o months. Israel's war on Gaza 'worst ever conflict' for journalists: Report Read More » According to a report published last month by the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, Israel's war on Gaza since October 2023 has "killed more journalists than the US Civil War, World Wars I and II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War (including the conflicts in Cambodia and Laos), the wars in Yugoslavia in the 1990s and 2000s, and the post-9/11 war in Afghanistan, combined". "In 2023, a journalist or media worker was, on average, killed or murdered every four days. In 2024, it was once every three days," said the report. "Most reporters harmed or killed, as is the case in Gaza, are local journalists." The Israeli military has frequently justified its attacks on civilian sites in Gaza, including hospitals, by alleging that Hamas uses them for military operations. The latest Israeli assault brings the number of journalists killed since 7 October 2023 to 225, Arab48 reported. Overall, Israeli forces have killed more than 54,607 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war and wounded 125,341 others.
