Israel faces mounting international criticism following a military strike that killed three Palestinian journalists in central Gaza on January 21, 2026. The journalists—Mohammad Salah Qishta, Abdul Raouf Samir Shaat (a freelancer for Agence France-Presse), and Anas Ghanem—were documenting conditions at a displaced persons camp operated by the Egyptian Relief Committee when their clearly marked vehicle was targeted.
The Israeli military confirmed the attack, asserting it had targeted suspects allegedly operating a Hamas-affiliated drone. This justification mirrors previous unsubstantiated claims made by Israel throughout its two-year military campaign in Gaza, where journalists have frequently been accused of militant affiliations without evidence.
Mohammed Mansour, spokesperson for the Egyptian Relief Committee, condemned what he described as a ‘criminal targeting’ of a humanitarian mission, noting all committee vehicles bear prominent identifying logos. A source within the committee revealed the journalists were on assignment documenting camps near the Netzarim corridor, calling the attack a ‘dangerous precedent’ undermining ceasefire negotiations.
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate denounced the incident as a ‘deliberate assassination’ intended to silence Palestinian voices and conceal Israeli crimes against civilians. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) had previously identified the Israeli army as ‘the worst enemy of journalists’ in its December annual report, noting that 43% of journalist killings worldwide occurred in Palestinian territories, overwhelmingly perpetrated by Israeli forces.
Since October 2023, the Government Media Office in Gaza reports 260 journalists have been killed by Israeli forces. Despite a ceasefire agreement effective October 10, Israel has committed approximately 1,300 violations including deadly airstrikes, civilian arrests, home demolitions, and aid restrictions. The overall Palestinian death toll since October 2023 exceeds 71,500, with more than 171,300 wounded.
AFP mourned Shaat’s death and demanded a ‘full and transparent investigation,’ highlighting that foreign journalists remain unable to enter Gaza freely while local journalists face extreme danger. Independent journalist Barry Malone summarized the situation: ‘There is no ceasefire. There never was.’