RMNP condemns the killing of seven  journalists in Gaza

The Rural Media Network Pakistan expresses profound shock and grief over the deaths of seven journalists in Gaza, as a result of an Israeli airstrike. The attack, which struck a media tent near al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on the night of August 11, 2025, claimed the lives of four Al Jazeera journalists—Anas al-Sharif (28), Mohammed Qreiqeh (33), and cameramen Ibrahim Zaher (25) and Mohammed Noufal (29)—as well as two freelance media workers, including Moamen Aliwa (23), and another freelance journalist. Seven people died in total in this tragic incident, which is widely condemned as a targeted strike on press freedom. Israel has claimed that Anas al-Sharif was a Hamas operative; however, Al Jazeera, international press freedom groups, the UN, and rights organizations have denounced these allegations as unsubstantiated and inconsistent with the protections afforded to journalists under international law. Al Jazeera+1The Guardian+1ReutersThe Washington PostAP NewsIndiatimes

This horrifying episode is not an isolated case. Gaza has become the deadliest conflict in decades for journalists, with at least 184 Palestinian journalists killed since October 2023, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) AP News+1. By the time of his death on May 7, 2025, freelance journalist Yahya Sobeih had become one of hundreds killed while bravely reporting from Gaza; he was struck by an airstrike hours after celebrating the birth of his daughter Wikipedia.

Even before this conflict escalated, journalists have continued to fall victim to targeted violence. For instance, on 31 July 2024, Ismail al-Ghoul and his cameraman Rami al-Rifi were killed in an Israeli strike on their clearly marked vehicle in the al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City Al Jazeera+2Al Jazeera+2. These deaths, along with others, reflect a pervasive pattern of attacks that often involve clearly marked media personnel under circumstances that strongly suggest deliberate targeting. Al Jazeera+2Al Jazeera+2AP NewsThe Guardian

RMNP firmly stands with the international community in calling for:

1. An immediate independent investigation into this and all similar attacks.
2. The recognition that journalists are civilians under international humanitarian law and must not be treated as combatants.
3. Full protection and safe passage for all media professionals working in conflict zones.
4. Accountability for those responsible for these grave breaches.

We honor the courage of the fallen journalists—who dedicated their lives to bearing witness under unimaginable adversity—and extend our deepest condolences to their families, colleagues, and media organizations. Their work remains an indispensable pillar of truth, and their loss is a devastating blow to global press freedom.

Rural Media Network Pakistan stands committed to defending journalist safety, defending free press, and raising awareness about the vital necessity of media protection in all areas of conflict worldwide.

Source: RMNP