Israeli strike kills Palestinian journalist alongside his parents in central Gaza
Israeli forces killed Palestinian journalist Omar al-Dirawi along with his parents in a strike on their home in central Gaza on Friday.
Dirawi, who worked for various media outlets, is the 202nd journalist to have been killed by the Israeli army in Gaza since the start of the war in October 2023, according to Gaza’s government media office.
“The Government Media Office condemns in the strongest terms the targeting, killing, and assassination of Palestinian journalists by the Israeli occupation, and we call on the International Federation of Journalists, the Federation of Arab Journalists, and all journalistic bodies in all countries of the world to condemn these systematic crimes against Palestinian journalists and media professionals in the Gaza Strip,” the office said in a statement.
It called on the international community to prosecute Israel in international courts for its crimes.
Dirawi and his family were mourned by colleagues and loved ones. His press vest put over the shroud covering his body.
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According to Al Jazeera, photojournalist Hassan al-Qisahawi was also killed hours prior by an Israeli drone strike on Gaza City.
Media organisations have repeatedly urged Israel to protect journalists covering the war in Gaza, which the Committee to Protect Journalists called the “deadliest period for journalists” since the organisation started gathering data in 1992.
Israel often claims that Palestinian journalists are Hamas members while providing little or debunked evidence for its claims.
Over 45,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza, according to the besieged enclave’s health ministry.
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