Three Palestinian journalists have been killed in an Israeli strike in central Gaza, first responders say.
The Hamas-run Civil Defence agency reported that their car was targeted in the al-Zahra area and named the deceased as Mohammed Salah Qeshta, Anas Ghunaim, and Abdul Raouf Shaath. It is understood that they were working for an Egyptian relief organization.
The Israeli military justified the strike, claiming it targeted 'several suspects who operated a drone affiliated with Hamas... in a manner that posed a threat' to its troops. They stated the incident is under review.
In addition to the journalists, another eight individuals—including two children—were reportedly killed across Gaza due to Israeli artillery and gunfire, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Medics reported that three other casualties included a 10-year-old boy killed by Israeli tank fire in central Gaza, and a 13-year-old boy and a woman killed in Khan Younis.
The situation has drawn sharp condemnation, with Hamas describing the strike as a 'dangerous escalation of the flagrant violations of the ceasefire agreement'. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate labeled the act a war crime, asserting that it demonstrated a systematic Israeli policy aimed at stifling Palestinian voices and concealing acts against civilians.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) documented the deaths of at least 206 journalists since the onset of hostilities in this conflict, marking it the deadliest conflict for journalists ever recorded. The war was ignited by a Hamas assault on southern Israel in October 2023, which resulted in substantial casualties and triggered a military response from Israel.
As the conflict continues, with Gaza's health ministry reporting a high death toll among Palestinians, there are increasing calls for accountability and a reassessment of military engagement protocols in civilian areas.
