Relatives of journalists Ayman al-Gedi, Faisal Abu Al Qumsan, Ibrahim Sheikh Ali, Mohammad Al-Lada and Fadi Hassouna, who lost their lives after Israeli forces hit the live broadcasting vehicle belonging to Al-Quds al-Youm television (alqudstoday-tv) at the Nuseirat Refugee Camp, mourn as they hold funeral ceremony for them at Al Awda Hospital in Gaza City, Gaza on December 26, 2024. (Photo by Moiz Salhi/Anadolu via Getty Images)
IMS condemns yet another killing of 5 journalists in Gaza
The five journalists worked for Al-Quds Al-Youm TV and were killed in a direct airstrike
Yesterday, 26 December, Israeli forces killed five journalists in Gaza in a direct airstrike on their car. According to Reuters and other news media, the vehicle had visible press markings.
The five, who worked for Al-Quds Al-Youm TV, a channel affiliated with armed group Islamic Jihad, have been named as Faisal Abu Al Qumsan, Ayman Al Gedi, Fadi Hassouna, Mohammed Al-Ladaa and Ibrahim Sheikh Ali.
The Israeli army said the victims were militants posing as media workers but has not produced any evidence to support its claim. This makes the incident consistent with several past instances in which Israel has accused journalists of being involved in armed activity without any supporting evidence, such as in the case of the targeted killing in January of Al Jazeera’s Hamza Al Dahdouh and freelancer for AFP Mustafa Thuraya.
As we have stated many times previously, we repeat that journalists are considered civilians under international law; that warring parties are obliged to protect them as such; and that, as noted by the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, journalists become a legitimate target only if they participate directly in hostilities or incite war crimes or other international crimes.
This latest attack brings the count to a total of nine journalists killed in Gaza in 12 days and underlines how, 15 months after the onset of the war, Israel continues to kill journalists at an unprecedented level.
We reiterate the Special Rapporteur’s contention that silencing journalists by killing them is the most serious form of censorship. We join our colleagues at Committee to Protect Journalists in calling on the international community to act immediately to protect Palestinian journalists in Gaza and to push for and end Israel’s impunity for these killings.
For every instance in which actors with the power to intervene stand idly by, they become ever more complicit in Israel’s crimes in Gaza. While meaningful action is long overdue, late, as always, is better than never.
