The war in Gaza has become the deadliest conflict in history for journalists, with media workers paying an unprecedented price for documenting the war.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), at least 189 journalists and media staff, the vast majority of them Palestinian, have been killed in the 22 months since the conflict began. Local organisations and United Nations sources put the figure even higher, with estimates rising to 247 fatalities.

One of the most devastating incidents occurred at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, where a reported “double-tap” Israeli airstrike killed 20 people, including five journalists working for international news organisations such as Reuters, the Associated Press, and Al Jazeera.

The repeated targeting of hospitals and media workers has drawn condemnation from press freedom groups and humanitarian agencies, with some warning that such actions may amount to war crimes.

International reaction has been swift. Coverage in The Guardian highlighted the personal stories of slain reporters including Mohammed al-Khaldi, Anas al-Sharif, Mohammed Noufal, and Mohammed Qreiqeh — men who lost their lives while documenting the suffering of Gaza’s civilians.

Editorial commentary has gone further, arguing that these deaths are not isolated incidents but part of a wider effort to silence the press. “A nation that silences its press is a nation that silences itself,” one editorial warned.

Despite mounting risks, Gaza’s journalists continue their work under siege, famine, and relentless bombardment. Each loss, observers say, deprives the world not only of courageous individuals but also of essential witnesses to the realities inside the blockaded enclave.

Source: AL Jazeera 

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