Palestinians bid farewell to slain journos as another succumbs to injury

Another journalist was killed along with five other journalists from Qatar-based media outlet Al Jazeera in an Israeli airstrike.

Meanwhile, a large crowd, including many journalists, paid their last respects to the journalists killed by Israeli forces at the Sheikh Radwan Cemetery in the heart of the Gaza Strip, with tearful last respects and angry slogans.

Al-Khaldi was among seven people killed in a bomb attack on a journalists' tent outside Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on Sunday evening (August 10), Reuters reported. Reporters Without Borders, a rights group, confirmed Al-Khaldi's identity and said he had been covering the Gaza war with colleagues.

Citing the Gaza government media office, the Turkish news agency Anadolu reported that Palestinian journalist Mohammed al-Khalidi was injured in an Israeli bomb attack and later died in hospital.

Anas al-Sharif, 28, who was killed instantly in the attack, was a familiar face for Al Jazeera Arabic. He had been reporting continuously on Israeli attacks from northern Gaza for a long time. Other journalists killed included Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammed Qureikeh, camera operators Ibrahim Zaher and Moamen Aliwa, and their assistant Mohammed Nawfal.

Gaza authorities said Israel has killed 270 journalists and media workers since the war began on October 7, 2023. However, according to statistics from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), which works for the freedom and protection of journalists around the world, at least 186 of the 238 media workers killed were journalists.

The five previously killed Al Jazeera employees were buried at the Sheikh Radwan Cemetery after the funeral service that night. Numerous Gazans, including friends, colleagues, and relatives, joined the funeral procession with their coffins. They hugged and consoled each other, wiping away tears. Footage of the march shared online showed mourners chanting slogans condemning the killing of journalists, while another person held up a "press" flak jacket in honor of the victims.

Almost all international media outlets, including Al Jazeera and Andolu Agency, are saying that the order to kill Sharif, one of the bravest journalists in Gaza, and his colleagues is a desperate attempt to silence the voices that speak out against the occupation of the valley. They also accused journalists of being deliberately targeted to erase evidence of the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Al Jazeera also called on all relevant organisations, including the international community, to take decisive action to stop this. CPJ and the Palestine National Press Club have called for an investigation and accountability for the incident, and the Freedom of the Press Foundation has also appealed for action to stop further attacks on the media.

Israel is facing strong condemnation for its massacre in Gaza, where it has killed more than 61,430 people since October 7, 2023. Another 153,213 people were injured. The enclave, which has been devastated by Israeli military operations, is facing acute famine. So far, 222 Palestinians have died from their enforced starvation, 101 of whom are children.

In November last year, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for the war in the valley.