Israeli Airstrikes Kill Two Journalists in Gaza, Raising Death Toll to 208

Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have killed at least 65 people in the past 24 hours, including women, children, and two journalists, according to the Palestinian Health Authority. The ongoing violence marks nearly a week since Israel resumed intense bombardments, breaking a ceasefire agreement with Hamas.

Among the casualties were Hossam Shabat, a correspondent for Al Jazeera Mubasher, and Mohammed Mansour, a reporter for Palestine Today TV. Shabat was killed when an Israeli drone struck his car near Beit Lahia in northern Gaza. Mansour died in an airstrike that hit his apartment in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, also killing his wife and child. Both deaths bring the total number of journalists killed in Israeli strikes since October 2023 to 208, highlighting the increasingly perilous conditions for media workers in the region.

The Gaza Government Media Office condemned the killings, calling them “brutal crimes,” and held Israel, the U.S., and their allies responsible for the deaths. They appealed for international intervention to halt the ongoing violence and ensure better protection for journalists.

Hossam Shabat, who had been accused by Israel of ties to militant groups in October 2023 a charge he denied was wearing a press vest at the time of his death. His vehicle, marked with an Al Jazeera sticker, was targeted in the attack. Following his death, hundreds gathered for his funeral in Beit Lahia, where his body was draped in the press flak jacket.

The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate also expressed outrage, calling these deaths “a crime added to the record of Israeli terrorism.” The syndicate further stated that more than 170 journalists have been killed since the war began in October 2023, when Hamas launched its attack on Israel.

In addition to the journalist fatalities, Israeli strikes hit a school in Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp, killing at least four people, including a child. These airstrikes come as Israel intensifies its offensive, targeting various locations across Gaza to dismantle Hamas infrastructure.

The Israeli military has repeatedly emphasized that it targets militants and tries to minimize civilian casualties. However, Gaza’s health ministry reports that at least 50,082 Palestinians have been killed and over 113,000 injured since the conflict began in October 2023.

In the ongoing struggle to reach a ceasefire, Egypt has proposed a new plan: Hamas would release five hostages in exchange for Israel allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza and pausing the fighting for several weeks. While Hamas has expressed a positive response to the proposal, the conflict continues with no immediate resolution in sight.

The war, which began with Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, has resulted in significant loss of life on both sides, with thousands of Palestinian civilians and Israeli hostages caught in the crossfire. As Israel’s military operation presses on, the international community is facing increasing calls to intervene and ensure the safety of civilians, including journalists, in Gaza.