Israeli Occupation Kills 204 Journalists and Media Activists in Gaza Amid Ongoing Genocidal War
Palestinian journalism faces devastating losses as Israeli airstrikes target press members, with mounting casualties and destruction in Gaza's media sector
Watan–The number of journalists and media activists killed by Israeli occupation forces in Gaza has risen to 204, following the martyrdom of journalist Mohamed Bashir al-Talmas. This is since the beginning of the genocidal war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, according to the Government Media Office in Gaza.
Journalist Mohamed al-Talmas (40 years old) was critically injured yesterday, Monday, due to Israeli airstrikes targeting the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City. The Government Media Office announced today, Tuesday, the martyrdom of al-Talmas, who worked as an editor for the Palestinian News Agency (Safa).
The office condemned, in a statement, the “targeting, killing, and assassination of Palestinian journalists by Israeli occupation forces.” It held “the Israeli occupation, the U.S. administration, and countries involved in the crime of genocide, such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, fully responsible for committing this heinous, brutal crime.” The office called on “the international community and organizations related to journalism and media worldwide to condemn the occupation’s crimes, deter it, and pursue it in international courts.”
In the same context, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate mourned al-Talmas and journalism student Ahlam Nafith al-Tallouli, who was martyred in an Israeli airstrike that targeted Gaza City.
The syndicate confirmed in a statement today, Tuesday, that “the targeting of journalists and media activists is part of the systematic attack carried out by the occupation forces on Palestinian journalism, aimed at hiding the facts and preventing the Palestinian narrative from reaching the world.” It emphasized that “the martyrdom of our colleagues reflects the magnitude of the sacrifice made by Palestinian media in its battle for truth and justice.” The syndicate called on the international community, human rights organizations, and media entities to “take immediate action to provide necessary protection for Palestinian journalists and ensure the freedom of journalistic work in the Palestinian territories.”
In related news, Alaa al-Halou, a Gaza-based correspondent, along with his wife and children, narrowly escaped an Israeli airstrike this morning, Tuesday, targeting a café in Deir al-Balah where they had sought refuge.
Alaa al-Halou, who lives in Gaza City, had his apartment destroyed in the early days of the Israeli assault, followed by the destruction of his family’s house, before he began his displacement journey to various areas in central and southern Gaza. He wrote on his Facebook page today: “God’s will and what He desires… In the final moments of hope that this madness would end, Lawrence Café, where I and my family are taking refuge, was bombed. Thankfully, the fire destroyed all our belongings and everything except our hope for the end of this massacre.”
In December 2024, a report from Reporters Without Borders held the Israeli army responsible for one-third of the abnormal journalist deaths worldwide. The International Federation of Journalists, headquartered in Brussels, confirmed that Gaza is “one of the most dangerous places” for journalists.
According to the Government Media Office in Gaza, Israeli occupation forces have arrested 43 journalists, whose names are known. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate stated that material losses in Gaza’s media sector have amounted to about 400 million U.S. dollars.
