Gaza: Al-Aqsa Radio director killed by Israeli strike, Palestinian journalist death toll rises to 160

Palestinian journalist Mohammed Abdullah Mashmash was killed by an Israeli strike on Tuesday, Gaza's government office confirmed, as atrocities continue to be carried out against media workers in the enclave amid Israel's war.

Mashmash was the director of programmes at Al-Aqsa Voice Radio, a radio station based in the war-hit enclave, the territory's government office confirmed.

According to some Palestinian news outlets reported, Mashamash was killed after an Israeli airstrike hit the UN-run Al-Razi school in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, killing at least five people. Hamas officials, however, did not provide details on the circumstances of his death in their statement.

At least 160 Palestinian journalists in the Gaza Strip have now been killed since the start of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza on October 7, the territory’s government office said, amid continuous attacks on media personnel.

The Gaza government office told the Turkish Anadolu agency: "We ask God Almighty for all our fellow martyred journalists to have mercy, acceptance and paradise upon them, as well as patience and solace for their families and the Palestinian journalism community."

The bombing of the school came as Israel intensified its attacks on Gaza on Tuesday, carrying out multiple strikes that killed at least 44 Palestinians and injured 99, according to the Gaza civil defence spokesperson.

17 people were said to be killed in a strike on a fuel station in Al-Mawasi in southern Gaza, while an unspecified number of people were killed in a strike on a roundabout, in the territory's north.

Throughout Israel’s months-long war in Gaza, the military has detained, wounded and killed journalists as part of its offensive. Some of those killed include Al Jazeera cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa, Al-Ghad TV journalist Yazan al-Zuweidi and Hadf News’ Ahmad Bdeir.

Many of Mashmash’s Al-Aqsa Radio colleagues have also been killed by Israeli forces since October 7, including Yahya Abu Manih and Duaa Sharaf, who was killed alongside her child.

Israel has also gone on to target journalists beyond the Gaza Strip, carrying out atrocities against media personnel in the occupied West Bank and southern Lebanon.

The Gaza bureau chief for Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, The New Arab’s sister site, was also detained by Israeli forces amid a harrowing ordeal in Beit Lahia, in December last year.

Diaa al-Kahlout was forcibly detained from his home, stripped to his underwear and was subject to physical abuse and torture during 33 days in Israeli custody.

Also on Tuesday, the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate stated that Israeli forces have committed a total of 491 violations against media personnel in Gaza and the West Bank, during the first half of the year.

They said that at least 50 journalists remain held by Israeli forces in the Palestinian territories.

Since October 7, the Israeli army has killed at least 38,794 Palestinians as of Wednesday, during its brutal bombardment of residential buildings, schools and hospitals.

Israel's offensive and siege of Gaza has also gone on to plunge the enclave into a dire humanitarian situation, amid high food insecurity levels, the spread of disease and severe lack of basic needs and medicine.

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