Israeli Forces Kill 2 Journalists, Bringing Total to 140 in Past 6 Months

Israeli forces killed journalists Ayman and Ibrahim Al-Gharbawi while they were covering an Israeli military attack near Khan Yunis, increasing the number of journalists killed by Israel in the past 6 months to 140. The Al-Gharbawi brothers are the most recent casualties in the ongoing Israel-Gaza war, which has severely impacted journalists trying to report on the conflict.

Since the war began on October 7, 2023, at least 97 journalists and media workers have been killed. Journalists in Gaza encounter high risks as they attempt to cover the devastating Israeli airstrikes amid disrupted communications, supply shortages, and power outages. The list of slain journalists includes freelance photographer Mohamed El Reefi, photojournalist Abdul Rahman Saima, journalist Muhammad Salama, freelance photojournalist Mohamed Yaghi, and director of Quran Radio channel Zayd Abu Zayed, among many others.

Why this matters: The deaths of these journalists represent a heavy price paid to defend the right to truth and information in the Israel-Gaza conflict. Those responsible for killing journalists, who are protected under international law, may face trials for war crimes.

The Israeli parliament has also passed emergency regulations enabling the temporary shutdown of foreign media offices in occupied Palestine, including Al Jazeera, as part of a systematic campaign to silence Palestinian journalists and censor coverage of the conflict. Press freedom organizations condemn these attacks on journalists as direct assaults on press freedom and war crimes.

The free expression organization PEN America canceled its annual World Voices Festival after a wave of participants withdrew, spurred by a boycott campaign led by writers who say the group's response to the war in Gaza has been insufficiently critical of Israel. PEN America stated it made the decision because a growing number of writers had pulled out, some due to differences with the group and others who felt pressured to withdraw.

Saleh Hijazi, Amnesty International's Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa, said in a statement: "The killing of Ayman and Ibrahim Al-Gharbawi is a tragic addition to the long list of journalists who have lost their lives while reporting on the Israel-Gaza conflict. Journalists must be protected and allowed to do their crucial work without fear of attack. The Israeli authorities must immediately investigate these killings and hold those responsible to account." At least 140 journalists have been killed by Israeli forces in the past six months alone as the war in Gaza continues to claim civilian lives.

Key Takeaways

• Israeli forces killed journalists Ayman and Ibrahim Al-Gharbawi covering an attack.
• At least 97 journalists and media workers killed since the war began in Oct 2023.
• Israel passed regulations to shut down foreign media offices in occupied Palestine.
• PEN America canceled its annual festival due to a boycott over its Gaza response.
• Amnesty calls for investigation into the killings of journalists by Israeli forces.