Israeli attacks in Gaza have claimed the lives of 228 journalists, with the latest being photojournalist Ismail Abu Hatab, killed in a strike on al-Baqa rest area along Gaza City’s beach.
Abu Hatab, who worked with multiple media platforms, documented Gaza’s dire conditions through photography, including exhibitions abroad to highlight the region’s humanitarian crisis.
Gaza’s Government Media Office condemned the “systematic targeting, killing, and assassination of Palestinian journalists by the Israeli occupation,” noting the mounting toll since October 7, 2023.
The violence extends beyond journalists, with at least 80 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza in a single day, including 57 in northern Gaza and 15 aid seekers near distribution centers in north Rafah.
A crowd in Khan Younis, far from military targets, was hit by heavy artillery, while Israeli jets struck a displacement center near Gaza’s seaport, killing 21, including women, children, and the elderly.
Eyewitnesses reported that those targeted posed no threat, emphasizing the indiscriminate nature of the attacks, which also left nearly 50 wounded, many seriously.
Since October 7, 2023, Israeli forces have killed over 56,531 civilians, mostly women and children, and injured over 133,642 others, with many victims still trapped under rubble.
Medical facilities, overwhelmed by the wounded, face severe shortages of staff and supplies.
Journalist Bayan Abu Sultan was also injured in the beach strike, highlighting the relentless dangers faced by civilians and media workers alike.
The attack on al-Baqa Cafe, a refuge for displaced families, underscores the worsening crisis, with images of injured children and destroyed buildings circulating online.