Journalists Killed in Gaza: A Tragic Pattern of Targeting the Truth

From the attack on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis (image source)

Israeli airstrikes on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, claimed the lives of 20 Palestinians on August 25, 2025—including five journalists. The attack, followed by a second strike aimed at rescuers and media personnel, has reignited international outrage over the safety of journalists in conflict zones.

The journalists killed were identified as Hussam al-Masri (Reuters), Mohammad Salama (Al Jazeera), Mariam Abu Daqqa (Associated Press), Moaz Abu Taha (NBC News), and Ahmed Abu Aziz (Middle East Eye). A sixth journalist, Hassan Douhan, was shot dead in a separate incident the same day.

Israel’s military claimed it was targeting a Hamas surveillance camera in the hospital area, expressing “regret” for civilian casualties. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the incident as a “tragic mishap,” but rights groups dismissed the explanation, pointing to what they say is a consistent pattern of targeting media workers.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned the attacks, citing violations of international humanitarian law. “More than 200 journalists have been killed in Gaza since October 2023. This is not collateral damage—it’s a pattern,” the group said in a statement. The UN echoed these concerns. Thameen Al-Kheetan of the UN Human Rights Office stressed, “Targeting journalists and hospitals is forbidden under international law. This must be investigated.”

According to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS), at least 247 journalists have died in Gaza since the start of the war. Advocacy groups argue that the high toll underscores deliberate efforts to silence independent reporting from the territory.

Prominent voices in journalism have also condemned the killings. Janine Di Giovanni, director of the Reckoning Project, told Al Jazeera: “If Israel is allowed to get away with this, it sends a message to every regime that no journalist is safe.” Palestinian journalist Mariam Barghouti criticized the Associated Press for initially failing to name Mariam Abu Daqqa in their coverage: “She worked day and night under inhumane conditions. She deserves recognition.”

As calls for an independent investigation grow louder, pressure mounts on the international community to act. For many observers, the latest killings highlight not only the risks faced by journalists in Gaza, but also the wider question of accountability in conflicts where the truth itself is under fire.