ALBAWABA - The past weekend was the deadliest for the media since the war between Israel and Hamas began on 7 October. Ten Palestinian journalists were killed in the three days from 18 to 20 November, of whom at least three were killed in the course of their work, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reported.
Jonathan Dagher, Head of RSF’s Middle East desk, said in a statement: "The Israeli forces have killed nearly 50 journalists in 45 days in the Gaza Strip, including 11 in the course of their work. This is one of the deadliest tolls in a century. International journalists are banned from entering Gaza. Reporters there have no safe refuge and no way of leaving".
The total number of journalists killed so far in the latest Israeli aggression on Gaza rounds to 48, including 11 so far in the course of their work, according to RSF.
The RSF report also stated that "while most of these crimes were committed in the north of Gaza, where Israeli forces have concentrated their attacks, at least five journalists were killed in the south, above all in the cities of Rafah and Khan Younis, where much of the territory’s population has sought refuge".
On November 21st, AlMayadeen journalists Farah Omar and Rabie Al Mamari were fulfilling their duties on the frontlines in Southern Lebanon when an Israeli airstrike targeted them, killing them both along with a local guide.
Of the ten journalists killed from 18 to 20 November, at least three were killed in the course of their work or because of it. Hassouna Sleem, the director of the Palestinian online news agency Quds News, and freelance photojournalist Sary Mansour were killed during an Israeli assault on the Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on 18 November, RSF reported.
According to RSF’s information, they had received an online death threat in connection with their work 24 hours prior to their deaths.
