5 Palestinian journalists have been killed in an Israeli double-tap strike on Nasser hospital in southern Gaza on Monday.
Israel struck a constructing on the hospital, killing Reuters journalist Hussam al-Masri and others. Then, after journalists and rescue employees ran to the scene to assist their colleagues, a second bomb hit the identical spot quarter-hour later.
The 5 journalists be a part of their now greater than 247 Palestinian colleagues killed in Gaza over the past 22 months, in accordance with UN statistics.
That is the deadliest battle for journalists recorded, killing extra journalists than each world wars, the Vietnam battle, the Yugoslavia wars and the US battle in Afghanistan mixed.
The strike on Nasser hospital was captured by a reside broadcast and confirmed unarmed medics and journalists holding up their arms to protect themselves moments earlier than they have been killed.
The pictures of their deaths have provoked outrage throughout the globe and calls to guard Palestinian journalists whereas they’re doing their jobs.
Listed below are their tales.
Moaz Abu Taha
Moaz Abu Taha was a 27-year-old freelance video journalist whose work had been printed by Reuters, amongst different shops.
Journalism had not been Abu Taha’s unique profession, however he felt compelled to start filming throughout the Gaza battle and shortly discovered a ardour in images and video journalism. He couldn’t afford a correct digicam, so he filmed and photographed along with his telephone.
During the last 5 months, as Gaza’s humanitarian disaster worsened and starvation started to unfold all through the strip, his household mentioned Abu Taha started to work as a humanitarian. He targeted on particular circumstances by way of his video stories, sending pressing appeals for sick youngsters and the wounded who wanted assist.
He had been making ready for his engagement when he was killed.
“Moaz was the youngest in our household, the spoiled one. He cherished his work deeply, regardless that it hadn’t been his unique profession. He was very social and loved making new mates all over the place,” mentioned Adly Abu Taha, Moaz’s older brother.
Hussam al-Masri
Hussam al-Masri was a 48-year-old cameraman who labored with Reuters and was the daddy of two sons and two daughters.
Al-Masri began his profession at a younger age, serving to his mom, a journalist, arrange her a digicam.
“He held his first digicam in 1993 and from that yr till now, virtually 32 years, there was by no means a day and not using a digicam by his aspect,” mentioned Ezz al-Din al-Masri, Hussam’s mom.
He was recognized for his bravery within the discipline and his dedication to the story. His mom recounted how he was the final journalist to stay in Nasser hospital throughout Israel’s first invasion of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
“To my shock, he referred to as me, saying he was nonetheless broadcasting from contained in the hospital as the military surrounded them. I fought with him, demanding he depart instantly,” Ezz al-Din mentioned.
Al-Masri continued his protection all through the battle, regardless of his spouse’s deteriorating well being as she struggled to get therapy for most cancers. Within the days earlier than his demise, he had been searching for her evacuation from Gaza. His mates and fellow journalists have stored up his enchantment, advocating for her medical evacuation.
“Hussam, regardless that he was nearing 49 years outdated, at all times carried the spirit of a kid and an harmless, tender coronary heart. I by no means felt that he might develop outdated or grow to be an elder. I at all times handled him as my mischievous little boy,” Ezz al-Din mentioned.
“However now, after his demise, I used to be struck by the truth that he had aged with out me realising it.”
Ahmed Abu Aziz
Ahmed Abu Aziz was a 29-year-old freelance journalist who labored for varied shops, reminiscent of Center East Eye and Quds Feed.
He was described as “the journalist who by no means stopped” by his colleagues at Center East Eye, and was recognized for his bravery. He travelled throughout the Gaza Strip to get his story, regardless of the hazard it posed. He based mostly himself in Nasser hospital, the place he lined the impression of Israel’s assaults on folks throughout Gaza.
Abu Aziz was conscious about the hazard he was in as a journalist in Gaza. He misplaced two colleagues expensive to him early on within the battle, driving dwelling how fragile his personal security was. Writing a first-person piece for Center East Eye final yr, he mentioned his work typically made him really feel lonely, however he would persist.
“It felt like I used to be on their own and the one one left on the bottom as so many extra of my colleagues have been being killed,” Abu Aziz wrote.
Abu Aziz married in July 2024. His spouse, Lurzan Abu Aziz, who discovered his physique after the strike, described how a lot he supported and inspired her to additional her training. She was finding out for her PhD in regulation, and he a PhD in media.
“His dream was for us to earn our doctorates collectively. He at all times urged me to defend my dissertation it doesn’t matter what, and he inspired me endlessly. We have been imagined to defend our theses collectively this yr, however he left and I’m alone, grieving his loss,” mentioned Lurzan, 28.
Mohammad Salama
Mohammad Salama was a 24-year outdated photojournalist and cameraman who labored with Al Jazeera.
He grew up simply east of Khan Younis and knew he needed to be a photojournalist from a younger age, incomes a diploma in images and shadowing extra established journalists. He joined Al Jazeera in Feburary 2024.
In line with the information outlet, he was recognized for his professionalism, dedication, cheerful smile and lighthearted spirit.
On his birthday in November, Salama grow to be engaged to fellow journalist Hala Asfour. He and Asfour have been excitedly planning their wedding ceremony day, to be held after a ceasefire in Gaza.
He was the tenth Al Jazeera journalist killed within the Gaza battle.
Mariam Dagga
Mariam Abu Dagga was a 33-year-old photojournalist and mom of a 13-year-old boy, Ghaith. She studied journalism at college and started working in 2015, protecting main occasions in Gaza such because the 2018 “nice march of return”.
Through the Gaza battle, she started working for the Related Press and Impartial Arabia, primarily protecting humanitarian points.
Her images highlighted the human struggling in Gaza, with photos depicting ravenous youngsters and other people grieving their family members after Israeli strikes. Her final report for the Related Press lined the plight of malnourished youngsters in Nasser hospital, the place she was killed on Monday.
Fellow journalists mentioned Dagga was at all times able to work, even in harmful areas of Gaza, to get the story out to the world. Family and friends mentioned she was overwhelmingly variety and an inspiration to these round her.
“Mariam cherished her work, was enthusiastic about it, very quick in protecting occasions and by no means stopped documenting all the things. She was very variety and deeply cared about her household. She cherished everybody and all the things,” mentioned Siddiq Abu Dagga, Mariam’s brother.
Outdoors work, Dagga was a devoted mom, talking to her son Ghaith day by day. She left behind a letter for him, by which she informed him how proud she was.
“You’re my love, my coronary heart, my help, my soul and my son whom I’m at all times happy with,” Dagga wrote in a letter to Ghaith earlier than she was killed.
About The Author
