Journalists injured in attack on Gaza refugee camp
A recent assault on a refugee camp in central Gaza resulted in injuries to multiple journalists, including a CNN stringer, raising concerns over the safety of media personnel amidst Israel’s military operations.
The attack, reportedly carried out by Israeli tanks, targeted a group of journalists working at Nuseirat camp, where a TRT Arabi cameraman and correspondent were among those harmed. According to TRT’s Jerusalem bureau chief, one journalist sustained critical injuries, with the cameraman losing a leg and the correspondent suffering minor wounds.
The incident underscores the grave risks faced by journalists covering conflicts, with deliberate attacks against media professionals becoming increasingly common. TRT emphasized that the journalists were clearly marked as press, yet were still targeted, a disturbing trend that has led to the deaths of 140 journalists since the conflict began.
CNN sought comment from the Israel Defense Forces regarding the attack and allegations of targeting journalists. Footage captured by CNN depicts the injured journalists being rushed to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, with one journalist expressing determination to continue reporting despite his injuries.
Video footage from the scene shows civilians, including children and the elderly, seeking shelter amid artillery shelling. CNN interviewed an elderly man, Saleh, who was wounded by shrapnel while attempting to flee the area. Graphic footage revealed the severity of injuries sustained by Saleh and others, highlighting the dire situation in Nuseirat camp.
Recent Israeli airstrikes in the camp have resulted in numerous casualties, including a strike on a residential building that claimed 14 lives. The ongoing military offensive has proven to be the deadliest period for journalists in Gaza, with at least 95 media workers killed, according to preliminary investigations by the Committee to Protect Journalists.
UN experts have condemned the targeted attacks on journalists, labeling them as war crimes and accusing Israeli forces of deliberately obstructing media coverage. These attacks not only endanger the lives of journalists but also undermine press freedom and the public’s right to information.
