Since the beginning of the Israeli occupation’s assault on the Gaza Strip on 7 October 2023, civilians and journalists have been systematically targeted, turning the Strip into the epicentre of a genocide backed by some regional and international powers.
The death toll of Palestinian journalists has now risen to 247, following the killing of journalist Islam Ayad in Gaza City while covering the aftermath of bombardments that struck residential neighbourhoods. His death underscores the dangerous reality faced by journalists in Gaza as the occupation deliberately targets them, in flagrant violation of international laws protecting media professionals in conflict zones.
Palestinian journalist Islam Ayad was killed despite repeated threats and the ongoing dangers he faced while carrying out his reporting. His killing, carried out by Israeli occupation forces, has not weakened the determination of Palestinian journalists to continue their mission of exposing the truth.
The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate condemned Ayad’s killing and reaffirmed that all media professionals in Gaza are being directly and deliberately targeted. The Syndicate placed full responsibility for these crimes on the Israeli occupation and called on the international community to hold those responsible accountable for the ongoing targeting of journalists.
The deliberate targeting of journalists by the occupation is part of a wider pattern that includes killing civilians, starving them, and destroying homes and essential infrastructure. In Gaza, what is unfolding amounts to genocide. Since 7 October, crimes committed by the occupation have resulted in the deaths of more than 63,459 Palestinians and the injury of 160,000 others, with 256 journalists among the victims. More than 9,000 remain missing, while hundreds of thousands of displaced persons are enduring catastrophic conditions. Starvation alone has claimed the lives of 339 Palestinians, including 124 children.
These actions constitute a grave breach of international law, including the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit targeting civilians and journalists, and underline the occupation’s systematic policy of terrorising the population, silencing witnesses, and concealing the truth.
The continuation of this genocide demands urgent action from the international community, not merely condemnation. Those responsible must be held to account for killing, destruction, and forced displacement, and immediate steps must be taken to stop the escalation that is threatening the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocent Palestinians.
