African Journalists Against Genocide (AJAG) has condemned Israel’s “systematic targeting” of Palestinian journalists, following the killing of six reporters in Gaza on Monday.
Five journalists were killed and two were injured in a double-tap strike on the fourth floor of the Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza. A sixth journalist, Hassan Douhan of Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, was shot dead by Israeli forces in Khan Younis on the same day.
Those killed at Nasser Hospital were identified as Hussam Al-Masri (Reuters), Mohammad Salama (Al Jazeera), Mariam Abu Daqqa (The Independent Arabic and Associated Press), Moaz Abu Taha (NBC News), and Ahmed Abu Aziz (Quds Feed Network). Journalists Hatem Omar (Reuters) and Jamal Badah (Palestine Today TV) were injured.
Witnesses reported that Al-Masri was broadcasting a live video feed when the strike hit, abruptly cutting transmission. In total, 20 people were killed in the hospital attack.
The deaths add to a growing toll of media workers killed since the war began. The Gaza Government Media Office says at least 274 journalists have been killed since October 2023, including journalist Islam El-Khomy on August 19 and cameraman Khaled Mohammad Al-Madhoun on August 23.
AJAG, a coalition of senior journalists from more than 30 African countries, denounced the killings, accusing Israel of acting “with complete impunity in disregard for international law.” The group called on global journalist unions and associations to take urgent action, holding Israel and its international allies, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and France, responsible for “heinous and brutal crimes.”
“Journalism is not a crime. Killing journalists is THE crime,” AJAG declared.
