Arabic English French Spanish

Qatar Press Center Condemns the Killing of 48 Members of a Palestinian Journalist's Family

The Qatar Press Center strongly condemns the Israeli bombing of the home of journalist colleague Abdelrahim Khadr’s family in the Al-Jarn neighborhood of Jabalia Al-Balad, in northern Gaza Strip, which resulted in the martyrdom of 48 members of his family.

The Palestinian journalist documented the aftermath of the bombing of his five-story family home, which housed his parents, siblings, uncles, aunts, and their families. A large number of them were killed, and only five bodies could be recovered.

The Center highlights the continuous targeting of journalists in Gaza and the West Bank through security persecution, arrests, threats, and the bombing of their homes and gathering locations to prevent them from conveying the truth to the world and to push the Israeli narrative that justifies crimes, massacres, and violations through lies and fabrications.

The Center calls on the international community and UN, human rights, and media organizations to take urgent action to hold the Israeli occupation accountable before international courts for war crimes against journalists. The culture of impunity has encouraged Israeli forces to continue assassinating, arresting, and terrorizing journalists in full view of the world.

Since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on Gaza, the Center has documented the assassination of 228 journalists, while the number of wounded journalists has risen to over 430, who were injured by Israeli bullets and missiles. Additionally, at least 685 family members of journalists in the Gaza Strip have been killed, according to official Palestinian sources.

In mid-April, the Qatar Press Center issued an international appeal via official letters to international organizations including Reporters Without Borders, the International Federation of Journalists, and Human Rights Watch, calling for the protection of journalists in Gaza and the West Bank and the prosecution of the perpetrators.

The international appeal stated: “In light of the unprecedented and ongoing attack against Palestinian journalists and media professionals in Gaza and the West Bank, who have become direct targets of the Israeli killing machine, the Qatar Press Center addresses UN, human rights, and media organizations to assume their responsibility and urgently act to stop the bloodshed and provide legal and logistical protection for journalists in the occupied Palestinian territories.”

The Center also calls on the international community to pressure Israel to release imprisoned journalists who are enduring harsh conditions and are denied even the most basic rights afforded to detainees under international laws and conventions.