Israeli forces recently killed Palestinian journalist Hassan Hamad during an airstrike on his home in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. The 19-year-old journalist, who worked with Al Jazeera and other networks, had been documenting the conflict in Gaza for over a year. His death raises the number of Palestinian journalists killed since the war started to 175, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) confirmed that at least 128 journalists and media workers have died since Israel began its military operation in Gaza in October 2023, which has led to more than 41,000 deaths.
Hamad’s colleagues and Gaza’s Government Media Office stated that the airstrike on his home was a deliberate attempt to silence him. They said Hamad had received threats from an Israeli officer just days before his death, warning him to stop filming in Gaza. Despite these warnings, Hamad continued his work, documenting the devastation and sharing his footage with the world.
One of Hamad’s colleagues shared a post on his social media account, describing his final moments. The post explained that Hamad had been trying to stay away from his family to protect them from being targeted. Even though his internet connection was weak, he would spend hours on rooftops trying to upload videos to share with the world. The post also detailed the last phone call Hamad made, where he informed his colleague that the airstrike was imminent before hanging up abruptly.
In the days leading up to his death, Hamad had received threats via WhatsApp from an Israeli officer. The messages ordered him to stop reporting on the war, with a clear warning that his family would be harmed if he didn’t comply. Palestinian journalist Maha Hussaini shared screenshots of these threats on social media, shedding light on the danger Palestinian journalists face for covering the war.
Hamad was part of a group of Palestinian journalists working to provide real-time coverage of the ongoing war. For many, his death highlights the risks journalists face in conflict zones. His colleagues and international organizations, such as the CPJ, continue to raise concerns about the targeting of journalists in war zones. CPJ Program Director Carlos Martinez de la Serna emphasized that every time a journalist is killed or silenced, the world loses valuable fragments of the truth. Despite these losses, journalists like Hamad continue to risk their lives to tell the stories of the people caught in the middle of the conflict.
The Israeli government has not yet commented on Hamad’s death. However, the killing of journalists like Hamad brings international attention to the dangerous conditions under which media workers operate in conflict zones, particularly in Gaza. As journalists continue to face threats, the war continues to escalate, leaving many in Gaza and beyond searching for answers and hoping for peace.
