Journalists Targeted and Injured in Gaza Attack
GAZA — Chaos erupted when Israeli tanks launched a targeted attack on a refugee camp in central Gaza, leaving several journalists injured, including a CNN stringer. This incident adds to the growing concerns about the safety of media workers covering Israel’s military campaign.
Among the injured were a cameraman and correspondent from TRT Arabi, as well as other journalists working at Nuseirat camp. TRT cameraman, Sami Shehada, lost a leg, while correspondent, Sami Barhoum, sustained minor injuries. The intentional attack on media professionals wearing clearly marked “PRESS” jackets is part of a wider pattern of violence that has claimed the lives of 140 journalists since the conflict began.
CNN reached out to the Israel Defense Forces for comment on the attack and allegations of targeting journalists at the camp. Footage captured by CNN showed the aftermath of the attack as journalists, including Shehada, were rushed to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital for treatment.
Speaking from his hospital bed, Shehada expressed his determination to continue reporting despite his injuries. He vowed to expose the Israeli occupation’s crimes against civilians and journalists, emphasizing that he will not abandon his camera even in the face of danger.
Video footage filmed by journalist Mohammad Al-Sawalhi depicted the harrowing scenes of civilians fleeing amidst artillery shelling in the camp. The sounds of gunfire and explosions filled the air as people, including children and elderly, sought shelter from the attacks.
The Israeli forces’ intensified assaults on Nuseirat camp have resulted in numerous casualties, with a recent airstrike killing 14 people. The ongoing military offensive has made Gaza the deadliest period for journalists, with at least 95 media workers killed since CPJ began tracking data.
UN experts have condemned the deliberate targeting of journalists as war crimes, emphasizing that such attacks aim to silence critical reporting. Despite wearing identifiable press gear, journalists continue to face threats to their safety while covering the conflict in Gaza.
