Gaza: Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi was shot dead in Gaza City while covering Israeli attacks near the Shifa Hospital on October 12. Al-Jafarawi, a reporter for the Gaza-based news agency Shabab al-Bilad, was filming the aftermath of Israeli air raids when he was struck by gunfire. Eyewitnesses confirmed he was wearing a press vest and helmet at the time.
His colleagues believe he was deliberately targeted despite being clearly identified as a journalist. Video footage from the scene shows him documenting destruction moments before his death. The area had been under heavy bombardment, with Israeli forces clashing with Palestinian fighters nearby.
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate denounced his killing as a “deliberate targeting of the press.” The International Federation of Journalists and Reporters Without Borders also condemned the act and demanded an independent investigation. Both organizations stressed the need for accountability and reiterated that journalists must be protected under international law.
Al-Jafarawi is the twelfth journalist killed since the latest round of violence began in Gaza in early October. Media workers continue to operate under grave danger as Israeli forces intensify their operations across the enclave. The repeated targeting of journalists has raised global alarm over press freedom and the right to report from conflict zones.
