Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) has strongly condemned the 'systematic and deliberate' airstrike carried out by Israeli forces on a group of Palestinian journalists in the southern Gaza Strip.

The attack, which took place in the early hours of Monday near Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, resulted in the deaths of two individuals and left nine journalists injured.

Among the fatalities were photojournalist Helmi al-Faqawi and a young civilian, Yousef al-Khazindar. The injured journalists—many of them prominent local media figures—included Ahmed Mansour, Hassan Islayh, Ahmed al-Agha, Mohammed Fayeq, Abdullah al-Attar, Ihab al-Bardini, Mahmoud Awad, Majed Qudaih, and Ali Islayh. Disturbing footage circulated by activists showed journalist Ahmed Mansour’s body engulfed in flames moments after the blast.

WJWC labeled the strike part of a broader campaign of genocide that has intensified since March 18, when Israeli forces resumed full-scale operations in the Gaza Strip. “This is not an isolated incident,” the organization said in a statement. “It is part of a consistent and deeply troubling pattern of targeting civilians, humanitarian workers, and media personnel—individuals who are protected under international law.”

The organization also decried the silence of the international community, calling it a “shameful abdication of responsibility” amid what it described as the deliberate crushing of human rights and the destruction of Palestinian life and land.

 Pattern of Escalating Violence Against Media Workers

Since the beginning of April, WJWC has documented at least four deadly attacks on journalists in Khan Yunis alone, coinciding with intensified Israeli bombardments, the destruction of civilian infrastructure, and a gradual ground incursion into the southern Gaza Strip.

 On April 5, journalist Islam Miqdad, 29, and her young son Adam were killed when Israeli shells struck their home in the Al-Amal neighborhood. Miqdad had been awaiting the return of her daughter, who was receiving treatment in Egypt after being injured in a previous attack. Before her death, Miqdad left a poignant final message on Instagram:

 “My name is Islam, I’m 29 years old, and this is what I look like in my profile picture. What scares me most is that my death will be mentioned as a number. I am not a number. It took me 29 years to become who I am—I have a home, children, family, friends, memories, and pain. I am not just a number.”

 Just days earlier, on April 1, journalist Mohammed al-Bardawil of al-Aqsa Radio was killed alongside his wife and their three children when an Israeli warplane bombed their home in the Emirati neighborhood west of Khan Yunis.

 That same day, 26-year-old journalist and voice artist Haya Murtaja passed away. Known across Gaza for her work on children’s programs with UNRWA TV and her independent media channel, Murtaja reportedly suffered cardiac arrest following a wave of bombings that killed over 400 civilians, many of them women and children. She was hospitalized after her heart stopped from fear—and never recovered.

 WJWC said the death of Murtaja, a mother of two young daughters, Sham and Maryam, underscores the psychological trauma inflicted on civilians in Gaza and the toll of living under constant bombardment. “Her death is yet another testament to the invisible wounds of war,” the group noted.

 Deliberate Targeting of Journalists in Gaza Reaches Unprecedented Levels

The number of journalists killed by Israeli occupation forces in Gaza has risen to 210, according to figures published by WJWC. The toll, which includes male and female journalists as well as other media professionals, marks one of the deadliest assaults on the press in modern history. The number exceeds journalist fatalities recorded in multiple global conflicts combined—including World War II and the Vietnam War.

 Observers and press freedom advocates say the data points to a pattern of deliberate targeting. Many of the journalists killed were on duty at the time of the attacks and were clearly identifiable by their press vests or gear. Others were killed in strikes on residential buildings, despite the known presence of civilians, including journalists and their families.

 Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) has repeatedly condemned what it describes as systematic and premeditated attacks on the press. In October 2024—marking one year since the beginning of Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza—the organization released a detailed report titled “A Year of Tragedy: One Journalist Killed Every Two Days in Gaza.”

 In the report, WJWC Head and Nobel Peace Laureate Tawakkol Karman described the situation as a campaign of annihilation. “It is horrifying that journalists and their families are being eliminated simply for doing their jobs,” Karman stated. “These were not isolated mistakes or accidents. They were deliberate, carefully planned operations—a chilling escalation in the war against truth and free expression.”

 Fabrication and Fact Distortion

Women Journalists Without Chains has strongly rejected what it described as fabricated justifications repeatedly issued by Israeli officials to rationalize attacks on civilians and humanitarian personnel in Gaza. The organization warned against international acceptance or endorsement of these claims, asserting that they not only lack legal standing but also contradict the principles of international humanitarian law.

 In a statement, WJWC said that Israeli authorities have consistently resorted to misinformation and distortion following incidents that attract international scrutiny. “The arguments put forward to defend these actions are weak, implausible, and in complete violation of international norms,” the group said.

 A stark example cited by WJWC was the March 23 killing of nine paramedics and five civil defense personnel, who were ambushed and killed after being encircled by Israeli forces. Rescue teams were reportedly barred from reaching the scene for an entire week.

 Protect Journalists and End Impunity

Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) has called for immediate international intervention to stop the ongoing campaign of extermination targeting journalists and civilians in Gaza. The organization stressed the urgent need for protective measures and accountability for the persistent violations of international law.

 Referencing Article 79 of the First Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, WJWC reaffirmed that the presence of journalists in conflict zones does not make them legitimate targets. The article explicitly mandates their treatment as civilians and guarantees their protection. WJWC also cited Article 8 of the International Convention on the Safety of Journalists and Media Professionals, which upholds journalists’ safety and affirms their right to respect and protection during armed conflicts.

 The organization called for serious international pressure to halt the attacks, prevent further violations, and ensure journalists’ safety across Gaza. It also demanded the prompt initiation of international investigations into the crimes committed against journalists since the outbreak of war in October 2023.

 WJWC appealed to the global community, the United Nations, and human rights organizations to fulfill their legal and moral responsibilities in holding perpetrators accountable. It stated that the ongoing impunity enjoyed by Israeli leaders for killing journalists has emboldened further violations and eroded respect for international humanitarian law. “Accountability is not optional,” the organization stated. “Ending impunity is a critical step toward stopping these crimes and upholding the principles of justice and press freedom.”

 While Israeli officials, including the foreign minister, claimed the victims were terrorists in “suspicious vehicles,” new evidence cast serious doubt on that narrative. A video published by The New York Times—recorded by one of the paramedics shortly before his death—clearly showed rescue vehicles marked with medical symbols and personnel in reflective uniforms identifying them as emergency responders. The footage contradicted Israeli claims and fueled accusations of intentional targeting.

 WJWC extended its condolences to the families of the victims and warned of an escalating campaign of extermination against civilians, particularly those working in humanitarian roles. The organization highlighted the deliberate targeting of paramedics, civil defense workers, and journalists—individuals who play a vital role in delivering aid and documenting the ongoing atrocities in Gaza. “These attacks are not just violations of human rights—they are calculated efforts to suppress the truth and silence those who bear witness,” WJWC stated

 The recent surge in violence against journalists in Gaza is not merely a tragic statistic; it represents a strategic assault on freedom of expression and human rights. As documented by Women Journalists Without Chains, the deliberate targeting of media personnel is part of a broader pattern of oppression that seeks to silence dissent and manipulate narratives. The call for international intervention is more pressing than ever, as the ongoing impunity for such attacks emboldens further violations.

Released by:

Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC)

April 7, 2025