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Qatar Press Center Condemns Targeting of Journalists and Civilians in Al-Baqa Café Massacre

The Qatar Press Center strongly condemns the assassination of photojournalist Ismail Abu Hatab, who worked with various media outlets, and the injury of journalist Bayan Abu Sultan, in the Israeli bombing of Al-Baqa Café on the seashore of Gaza City. The café was sheltering dozens of displaced people and journalists. The attack resulted in the martyrdom of at least 21 civilians, raising the number of journalists killed since the beginning of the genocide war on Gaza to 231.

This targeting comes as part of an ongoing attempt by the occupation to silence free voices and suppress the truth. Journalists working in the field continue to face constant danger while covering the relentless aggression on Gaza and exposing the facts.

The Qatar Press Center affirms that Israel, which has been committing a genocide against Gaza’s population since October 7, 2023, is carrying out systematic massacres against journalists and media workers. This includes targeting their gathering sites, homes, and assassinating them with missiles and drones to silence their voices and prevent them from conveying the truth to the world, while promoting the Israeli narrative and lies.

The Center renews its call on the international community, UN organizations, and human rights and media institutions to condemn the targeting of journalists in Gaza, and to urgently take action to hold Israel accountable in international courts for war crimes against journalists and media professionals. The continued impunity has encouraged the Israeli occupation forces to persist in assassinating, arresting, and terrorizing journalists in full view of the world.

The last words written by journalist Ismail Abu Hatab before his martyrdom in the Al-Baqa Café massacre on his official (X) account were:
"We are now just moments away from the announcement of a ceasefire in Gaza. I pray to God that this war ends... The cabinet is in session and we are waiting. May God grant us relief soon."

Ismail Abu Hatab had previously survived a deadly Israeli airstrike on November 2, 2023, while he and other journalists were at Al-Ghafari Tower.

Activists have circulated videos and photos of the destruction caused by the bombing, including images showing journalist Bayan Abu Sultan covered in blood after surviving the massacre.

In a related context, the Government Media Office in Gaza also condemned the systematic targeting and assassination of Palestinian journalists by the Israeli occupation.

The office called on the International Federation of Journalists, the Federation of Arab Journalists, and all journalistic bodies around the world to condemn these systematic crimes against Palestinian journalists and media workers in the Gaza Strip.