Israeli Strike on Gaza Killed 2 Al Jazeera Journalists: Report

Photo : AP

Doha – Two Al Jazeera journalists were killed on Wednesday in an Israeli strike in Gaza, as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to rage. The Qatar-based network reported that Al Jazeera Arabic journalist Ismail al-Ghoul and his cameraman Rami al-Refee died when an Israeli attack targeted a car near the Aidia area, west of Gaza City.

The war in Gaza, which began on October 7, has seen continuous on-the-ground reporting from Al Jazeera, documenting the effects of Israel's military campaign. The network's office in Gaza has already been bombed during the conflict, resulting in the deaths of two other correspondents.

Hamas condemned the killings of al-Ghoul and al-Refee, calling it a "heinous crime" aimed at terrorizing and silencing Palestinian journalists. They stated that these actions were part of what they describe as the "ongoing genocide" against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip for nearly ten months.

Al Jazeera has faced significant criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government. Last month, an Israeli court extended a ban on the network, initially imposed in early May. Israel has accused Al Jazeera journalists of being linked to terrorist activities, which the network has fiercely denied.

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In January, Israel claimed that an Al Jazeera staff journalist and a freelancer killed in an airstrike in Gaza were "terror operatives." In February, another journalist with the channel was accused of being a "deputy company commander" with Hamas after being wounded in a separate strike.

Al Jazeera has accused Israel of systematically targeting its employees in Gaza. The network's bureau chief in Gaza, Wael al-Dahdouh, was wounded in an Israeli strike in December that killed the network's cameraman. In October, his wife, two of their children, and a grandson were killed in the bombardment of the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. His eldest son, an Al Jazeera staff journalist, was killed in January when a strike targeted a car in Rafah.

As the conflict in Gaza continues, Al Jazeera remains committed to reporting on the ground, despite the significant risks faced by its journalists. The network continues to highlight the human impact of the war and the ongoing violence in the region.