Al Jazeera Cameraman Among Six Killed in Gaza Air Strike
Israeli air forces struck a central Gaza home on Saturday, killing six people, including journalist Ahmed Wishah of Al Jazeera, and at least one child, according to local health officials and emergency responders.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) say Wishah was a “terrorist in Hamas’ military wing and a sniper operative.” No evidence has been presented to support this claim, and the Al Jazeera network has condemned the killing as a “heinous crime” that violates international law and threatens journalists.
The IDF also attacked a dwelling in the Bureij refugee camp, killing three other residents whom it accuses of being part of Hamas. Two children and a woman were among those killed. Sabra neighbourhood residents reported another nighttime strike that claimed four lives, including two children.
Meanwhile, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry reports that 1,007 people have died since the ceasefire took effect in October, a figure the United Nations regards as reliable.
The ceasefire, agreed between Israel and Hamas, also promises a substantial flow of humanitarian aid. Tom Fletcher, head of the UN humanitarian agency, told the Security Council that the proportion of households eating a balanced diet fell from 92% to 36% since the ceasefire, though 70% of the population still lacks adequate shelter and sanitation. He warned that essential services are “on the brink.”
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the IDF is increasing its control over Gaza, aiming for 70% of the territory in the coming months, as part of the ceasefire’s withdrawal terms.
The ongoing conflict began with Hamas forces attacking southern Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages to Gaza, and has since escalated into a high‑intensity war that claims over 73,000 lives in Gaza.
The incident has drawn criticism from both sides, each accusing the other of violating the ceasefire conditions and highlighting the urgent humanitarian needs that remain unmet.
