At least four Palestinian journalists were killed on Thursday, June 5, in an Israeli airstrike that struck the grounds of Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City. The victims have been identified as Ismail Badah, a cameraman for Palestinian TV; Suleiman Hajjaj, a reporter; Samir al-Rifai of Shms News Agency; and Ahmed Qalaja. Several other journalists were also injured in the attack.
This incident brings the total number of journalists killed in Gaza since the Israeli military campaign began on October 7, 2023, to 226. The strike, targeting a medical facility, has drawn sharp criticism from global press freedom groups and human rights organizations, who have condemned the attack as a violation of international humanitarian law. Hospitals are considered protected zones in conflict, and the targeting of media personnel raises grave concerns about the safety of civilians and journalists in war zones.
The Israeli military has not commented on this specific strike, but previous statements have defended similar actions by citing the alleged use of civilian infrastructure by militant groups. As the international community remains divided over ceasefire demands, calls for accountability and protection of non-combatants continue to intensify.
