Israel has been extensively condemned for an assault its forces carried out on Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis that killed at the least 21 folks, together with 5 journalists, one in every of whom labored for Al Jazeera.
The assault on Monday consisted of two strikes – or a ‘double faucet’ – the second of which was captured on digital camera, displaying journalists and rescuers on a staircase being instantly hit.
Israel has now killed greater than 270 journalists and media staff in Gaza since its struggle began in October 2023. The journalists killed within the Nasser Hospital assault weren’t even all of these killed by Israel on Monday – a sixth journalist, Hassan Douhan, who labored as a correspondent for Al-Hayat al-Jadida newspaper, was killed in a separate incident in Khan Younis in a while Monday.
The journalists killed have been a part of an more and more close-knit however dwindling media neighborhood in Gaza. That they had already endured virtually two years of struggle, which had affected not simply their work but additionally their private lives.
Ahmed Abu Aziz
Ahmed Abu Aziz, 29, was identified amongst colleagues for his quiet manner, humility and kindness.
Able to writing and filming, Ahmed was well-respected amongst Gaza’s media neighborhood, and he labored with plenty of shops and organisations, together with Center East Eye, Quds Feed and the Impartial Fee for Human Rights.
The problem of travelling round Gaza in the course of the struggle didn’t cease Ahmed. He would usually journey lengthy distances throughout the Gaza Strip on foot to chase tales and doc Israeli struggle crimes in opposition to Palestinian civilians.
Ahmed married in July final yr and was additionally pursuing a doctorate on the Institute of Press and Data Sciences in Tunisia, which mourned his killing and condemned the focusing on of journalists in Gaza.
Hussam al-Masri
Hussam al-Masri, 49, was a photojournalist with Palestine TV and in addition labored as a contractor for the Reuters information company. Hussam operated a dwell video feed for Reuters from Nasser Hospital, which the information company mentioned “abruptly shut down in the meanwhile of the preliminary [Israeli] strike”.
Hussam’s dedication to his work got here at the same time as he carried private burdens.
Writing on Instagram after Hussam had been killed, journalist Amr Tabash recalled that days earlier, Hussam had requested him in a damaged voice: “Are you able to assist me evacuate my spouse? Her sickness is consuming her, and I can now not bear to observe her undergo.”
Amr described Hussam as tireless in serving to others and mentioned he had been among the many final to depart Nasser Hospital throughout an Israeli siege in December. Amr requested that individuals assist Hussam’s spouse now that he’s now not in a position to.
“Hussam is gone, and his spouse stays, combating most cancers alone, carrying double the ache after dropping her companion and assist,” Amr wrote. “For Hussam’s sake, for the mission he devoted his life to, and for his youngsters, don’t let his spouse face loss of life in silence.”
Mariam Abu Daqqa
Mariam Abu Daqqa was a 33-year-old Palestinian journalist and mom of a 13-year-old boy named Ghaith.
Out of worry for Ghaith’s security in the course of the struggle, Mariam despatched him to dwell together with his father within the United Arab Emirates.
Mariam was a contract photographer working with a number of worldwide companies, together with The Related Press, and contributed to Impartial Arabia.
She was well-known amongst her colleagues for her dedication and relentless drive to doc the struggling of the Palestinian folks. She stood on the entrance traces, among the many journalists protecting the struggle at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, even below repeated Israeli assaults on Gaza.
Mariam documented many human tales that exposed what Palestinians are enduring below siege and bombardment.
Mariam was additionally dedicated to her household. She had beforehand donated one in every of her kidneys to save lots of her father, who had kidney failure. However she couldn’t save her mom, who died from most cancers 4 months in the past on account of an absence of therapy accessible in Gaza.
Mohammad Salama
Mohammad Salama was a 24-year-old photojournalist and cameraman with Al Jazeera in Gaza. Born in Abasan al-Kabira, east of Khan Younis, he grew up and studied within the city’s faculties.
He joined Al Jazeera as a cameraman in February 2024. He was identified amongst his colleagues for his professionalism, dedication, cheerful smile and light-hearted spirit, even within the darkest circumstances.
Mohammad misplaced his mom in childhood and lived together with his father and kin. In November – on his birthday – he received engaged to fellow journalist Hala Asfour, hoping to carry a marriage as soon as there was a truce or ceasefire.
Mohammad studied at a vocational school, incomes a diploma in pictures. From a younger age, he was enthusiastic about photojournalism, taking quite a few programs and shadowing veteran journalists to hone his expertise.
He was one of some journalists left in Khan Younis after an Israeli operation within the metropolis in December 2023, however he was quickly compelled to depart the next February when Israeli forces stormed Nasser Hospital, expelling displaced civilians, journalists and medical groups at gunpoint.
He would later be killed on the identical hospital, the tenth Al Jazeera journalist killed within the struggle.
Moaz Abu Taha
Moaz Abu Taha was a 27-year-old Palestinian freelance video journalist.
One of many youthful era of photojournalists, Moaz documented the devastation of Gaza till his life was lower quick alongside his colleagues.
He was deeply shaken by the killing of fellow Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif two weeks earlier, writing on Fb: “By God, our energy is gone.”
Moaz was identified for his humour, kindness and humanity and sometimes helped sufferers, the needy and kids.
His brother, journalist Adly Abu Taha, known as him up after listening to in regards to the preliminary strike on Nasser Hospital: “I known as him instantly. He answered and mentioned, ‘I’m positive, however Hussam al-Masri has been killed. I informed him, ‘Could God have mercy on him,’ and begged him to depart.”
“He mentioned, ‘I’ll simply end filming Hussam. Then I’ll go.’ Minutes later, one other strike hit. I known as once more. His telephone was off. I rushed to the hospital, searched all over the place, even within the morgue, till I discovered him, with no head. I recognised him solely from his garments.”
