The toll of journalists killed during the Israel-Hamas conflict has risen to at least 17 as of early Wednesday morning, surpassing the previous reported death toll.
On October 7, Hamas, a militant group based in Gaza, launched a large-scale attack on Israel, prompting Israel to retaliate by launching strikes on the blockaded Gaza Strip and declaring war.
The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas has become the deadliest of the five conflicts in Gaza, resulting in more than 1,400 Israeli and 2,000 Palestinian deaths. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced, thousands injured, and dozens captured.
Among the casualties are journalists who were on the ground reporting on the unfolding events, shedding light on the horrific events and countering misinformation online.
Less than a week into the conflict, at least 10 journalists had been killed. Now, the death toll has risen to 17, including 13 Palestinian, three Israeli, and one Lebanese journalist, as reported by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
On October 13, Issam Abdallah, a videographer for Reuters based in Beirut, was killed in a shelling attack near the Lebanon border while documenting cross-border fires between Israel and Lebanon. Witnesses at the scene claim the shell that killed Abdallah originated from Israel. Israeli authorities have stated that they are investigating the incident, according to the Guardian.
In response to the escalating violence against journalists, Reuters Editor-in-Chief Alessandra Gallon issued a statement on October 17, calling on all parties involved to respect and prioritize the safety of journalists reporting in the region. Gallon described Abdallah as an experienced, talented, and passionate journalist who was beloved by his colleagues.
On the same day, an Israeli airstrike claimed the lives of Husam Mubarak, a journalist for the Hamas-affiliated Al Aqsa Radio, and Salam Mema, a freelance journalist and head of the Women Journalists Committee at the Palestinian Media Assembly.
Two more journalists, Mohammad Balousha and Issam Bhar, were killed on October 17 by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. Balousha served as the administrative and financial manager for the media channel “Palestine Today” office in Gaza, while Bhar was a journalist for Al-Aqsa TV.
As of Wednesday, CPJ has reported eight injured journalists and three missing or detained journalists.
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