The journalist community is mourning the loss of Hassan Hamad, a 19-year-old Palestinian journalist who was killed in an Israeli air strike on his home in Jabalia camp. Hamad, whose work appeared on Al Jazeera and other networks, had been documenting Israel’s war in Gaza for over a year. His colleagues and the Government’s Media Office in Gaza confirmed his death, stating that his home was deliberately targeted to silence him after he received threats from an Israeli officer warning him to stop filming in Gaza.
This tragic incident has brought the total number of journalists killed in the ongoing conflict to 175, with at least 128 journalists and media workers among the more than 41,000 people killed since Israel launched the devastating war in October 2023. The Committee to Protect Journalists has called for accountability for those responsible for the deaths of journalists, emphasizing the importance of a free press in reporting the truth.
Hamad’s dedication to his work and his efforts to document the realities of the conflict have been praised by his colleagues, who described his commitment to sending videos from rooftops despite difficulties in finding an internet connection. His death has highlighted the dangers faced by journalists reporting in conflict zones and the critical role they play in bringing information to the public. The Israeli government has not yet commented on his death, but the international community continues to advocate for the protection of journalists and press freedom.
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Photo credit www.aljazeera.com