Gaza, 8 April 2025 – Israel continues to commit ever more egregious crimes and atrocities in the 18^th month of its genocidal campaign against Palestinians. Among those systematically targeted are journalists, who have been repeatedly attacked in an apparent attempt to silence voices of truth and obstruct reporting on Israel’s ongoing war crimes. In yet another calculated assault on the press, Israeli forces struck a group of journalists in Khan Younis, killing two of them and a third person who was assisting their work.

According to field reports and eyewitness accounts, at approximately 01:20 a.m. on Monday 7 April 2025, Israeli warplanes fired at least one missile at a tent used by journalists from the Palestine Today News Agency. The tent was located just meters from the eastern gate of Nasser Medical Complex, with several other press tents situated along the road leading to the hospital. These tents serve as work and rest spaces for journalists. The attack killed journalist Helmi Mahmoud Al-Faqawi, 29, a reporter for Palestine Today News Agency, and Youssef Khalil Al-Khozondar, 30, a volunteer providing support services to the journalists. Journalist Ahmed Rawhi Mansour, 35, who sustained severe burns, died as a result of his wounds the following day.

Seven other journalists sustained various injuries in the attack, with at least two reported to be in a critical condition. The wounded include Hassan Abdelfattah Eslaih, 29, Ihab Iyad Al-Bordini, 38, Ahmed Saeed Al-Agha, 38, Abdelraouf Samir Shaat, 33, Majed Diab Qdeih, 39, Abdullah Fouad Al-Attar, 24, and Mahmoud Mohammed Awad, 41.

Journalist Mohammad Al-Sweirki, from RT (Russia Today), told Al Mezan:

 “At around 01:20 a.m. on Monday, 7 April 2025, I was asleep inside a tent used by NBC and RT journalists for work and rest near the eastern entrance of Nasser Medical Complex. With me in the tent were Samed Abu Zarifa and Taha Abu Zarifa, who both work for NBC News Agency, freelance journalist Ihab Al-Bordini, and Youssef Al-Khozondar. I woke up to the sound of a powerful explosion, debris flying, and dust filling the tent. I saw flames outside and rushed to wake Ihab and Youssef, thinking they were still asleep. When I called out and shook them, I saw that Youssef’s neck was bleeding and he wasn’t responding. Ihab was also non-responsive; his eye was swollen, and there was blood on his mattress. I screamed for help. Some colleagues came and helped rush them to the emergency department at Nasser Hospital. Medical examinations showed that Youssef had died from shrapnel wounds to the neck, while our colleague Ihab Al- Bordini had sustained a critical head injury and was moved to intensive care. I later learned that the missile had struck the Palestine Today tent opposite ours, leading to the death of Helmi Al-Faqawi and injuries to several other journalists.”

Israeli attacks on journalists in Gaza have continued relentlessly, with around 210 journalists and media workers killed, hundreds more injured, and dozens arrested, since October 2023. The entry of foreign press and correspondents into Gaza has been completely banned. 

Al Mezan strongly condemns the Israeli attacks on journalists and media workers. These repeated assaults clearly reflect Israel's deliberate strategy to inflict both physical and psychological harm on journalists who, because of their role in defending human rights and exposing the genocide in Gaza, have themselves become victims. Deliberately targeting any civilians, including journalists, is a serious violation of International Humanitarian Law. 

Accordingly, Al Mezan reiterates its urgent call on the international community to act swiftly to halt the ongoing genocide in Gaza, end the crimes against Palestinian journalists and media workers, and take immediate measures to protect Palestinian journalists and all civilians. Israel must be compelled to respect press freedom and held accountable for its violations. Al Mezan demands an end to the impunity granted to those responsible for war crimes and calls for justice for the victims.

Al Mezan also calls on international organizations concerned with journalism and media workers worldwide to show solidarity with Palestinian journalists in Gaza, disseminate their reports and ensure that their voices are heard, and intensify efforts to expose Israel’s violations of press freedom and the right to freedom of  expression, as well as its broader crimes against Palestinians.