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Qatar Press Center Condemns the Killing of Two Journalists and Their Families in Gaza

The Qatar Press Center strongly condemns the killing of Hassan Sammour, the Palestinian journalist with "Al-Aqsa Voice" Radio, and 11 members of his family, following airstrikes carried out by the Israeli occupation forces on their home in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip.

The center also condemns the killing of Ahmed Anwar Al-Helou, the Palestinian journalist with "Quds Network," and his brother, after Israeli forces bombed a group of civilians near Hamad Junction, northwest of Khan Younis.

The center reiterates its condemnation of Israel's deliberate targeting of homes and journalist gathering sites, aiming to exterminate journalists, silence free media, and prevent journalists and media professionals from conveying the truth to the world—constituting a blatant violation of international and humanitarian law.

The center calls on the international community, UN bodies, human rights organizations, and media institutions to condemn the targeting of journalists in Gaza and to urgently act to hold the Israeli occupation accountable before international courts for its war crimes against journalists and media professionals. The ongoing impunity has encouraged Israeli forces to continue their campaign of assassinating, arresting, and terrorizing journalists under the watch of the entire world.

The center also calls on the international community to pressure Israel to release the journalists detained in Israeli prisons, who are suffering from harsh conditions that deprive them of their basic rights as prisoners, as stipulated by international laws and conventions.

International Appeal

In mid-April, the center issued an international appeal through official letters to international organizations such as "Reporters Without Borders," the "International Federation of Journalists," and "Human Rights Watch," demanding protection for journalists in Gaza and the West Bank and accountability for the aggressors.

The international appeal stated: In the face of this unprecedented and ongoing assault against Palestinian journalists and media workers in Gaza and the West Bank, who have become direct targets of Israel's killing machine, the Qatar Press Center addresses international, human rights, and press organizations to assume their responsibilities and act urgently to stop the bloodshed and provide legal and logistical protection for journalists and media professionals in the Palestinian territories.

Family Extermination

Local sources reported that the strike targeting the home of journalist Hassan Sammour resulted in the death of his entire family, erasing them completely from the Palestinian civil registry.

The Government Media Office announced in a press release that with the killing of journalists Hassan Sammour, a presenter and broadcaster at the local "Al-Aqsa Voice" radio, and Ahmed Anwar Al-Helou, who worked for "Quds Network," the number of journalists killed has risen to 219 since the beginning of the genocidal war on Gaza.

The government office condemned the systematic targeting, killing, and assassination of Palestinian journalists by Israeli forces and called on the International Federation of Journalists, the Arab Journalists Union, and all journalist bodies worldwide to denounce these systematic crimes against Palestinian journalists and media workers in Gaza.

It also urged the international community and organizations related to journalism and media worldwide to condemn Israel's crimes, hold it accountable in international courts for its ongoing crimes, and bring its war criminals to justice. They also demanded serious and effective pressure to stop the crime of genocide, to protect journalists and media workers in Gaza, and to end the killing and assassination of journalists.

Deliberate Assassination

During its aggression on Gaza, Israeli forces deliberately target journalists and media institutions, having injured around 400 journalists, arrested 40 others, and destroyed the majority of local and international media offices operating in the Strip. Moreover, all local radio stations were forced to shut down due to displacement, forced migration, and the lack of basic resources for journalistic work, especially electricity and internet.