Journalists killed in Gaza remembered

The piece recalls six media workers killed in Gaza and examines what their stories reveal about reporting under attack.

Remembering six journalists killed in Gaza

Six media workers are remembered after being killed in Gaza during the ongoing war. Anas al-Sharif, 28, was killed in a tent for journalists outside al Shifa hospital in Gaza City in the same attack that killed seven people including Al Jazeera colleague Mohammed Qreiqeh and camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa. Sharif reported to broad audiences and had more than 500 000 followers on X. His father was killed in December 2023 in an Israeli strike on the family home in Jabaliya.

Ismail Abu Hatab, 32, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the al Baqa cafe on the seashore in Gaza City in June, alongside 33 others. Fatma Hassouna, 25, a photographer and filmmaker, was killed in an airstrike that hit her home in northern Gaza in April, with six family members also killed. Hassan Aslih, 37, was killed in a drone attack on the emergency department of Nasser hospital in Khan Younis in May. Hossam Shabat, 23, was killed in Beit Lahiya in March, shortly after a ceasefire ended, while reporting. The Israeli military said its attack on the cafe targeted a meeting of Hamas members.

The deaths underscore the constant danger faced by reporters in war zones and the tolls borne by those who document conflict. These stories show how journalism can become part of the war narrative, shaping both how events are seen and who is remembered. The sheer variety of roles among the victims—photographers, videographers, stringers—highlights the fragility of field reporting when access is restricted or disputed.

The incidents also raise hard questions about protections for journalists, the verification of battlefield claims, and accountability for strikes on media. They could intensify calls for clearer safety standards, independent verification of casualty reports, and greater transparency from both military sides about attacks on reporters.

Highlights

These deaths remind us that reporting from war zones is a duty as much as a danger.