The New Humanitarian, May 18 2025 – Israeli military operations against Gaza have claimed three more Palestinian journalists’ lives since October 2023, bringing to over 200 the total number of media workers killed according to both the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS). IFJ reports:
Recent Victims Whilst Hassan Samour of Al-Aqsa Radio was killed by an Israeli airstrike on May 15 in Khan Younis along with 11 of his family members in a single airstrike, many are mourning his passing as we speak (Wikipedia +1 and IFJ+2).
Ahmed al-Helou of Quds News Network was also killed that same day, according to Middle East Monitor +2 and Wikipedia.
On May 13, photojournalist and editor Hassan Aslih, director of Alam24 News Agency was killed when Israeli forces launched an airstrike against Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis where he was receiving treatment for injuries sustained in a previous attack. (sources Reuters +4
Wikipedia+4 by way of comparison). (Reuters+4
Wikipedia and WikiBot).
Press Freedom Under Attack According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), at least 179 journalists and media workers have been killed since the war started, making this period the deadliest since CPJ began collecting data in 1992. Wikipedia Committee to Protect Journalists
ameja.org
Journalists reporting from Gaza face high risks when covering its conflict, such as Israeli airstrikes and famine, which has forced 90 percent of its residents out and destroyed 80% of its buildings.
International Condemnation
Both IFJ and PJS have strongly condemned attacks against journalists worldwide and called for immediate investigations into their deaths. One advocate of press freedom noted, “Journalists are civilians not targets” when speaking out on this topic. NPR +2 and Truthout +2 have both issued statements condemning these deaths as well. Neither organization responded when being threatened to openly identify journalists being murdered at various times around the world.
Humanitarian Crises
The Gaza conflict has resulted in an alarming humanitarian situation. Over 53,000 people have been reported killed with mass displacement and severe shortages of food, water and medical supplies causing mass displacement.
Targeting journalists and media facilities has further restricted information from emerging conflicts in Syria and raised serious doubts over our capacity to document and report on what’s unfolding there.
As casualties rise and humanitarian conditions worsen, international organizations continue to call for an immediate ceasefire and the protection of civilians and journalists in accordance with international law.