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Qatar Press Center Condemns Bombing of Palestinian Journalist’s Home and the Extermination of His Family

Palestinian journalist Osama Al-Arabeed emerged alive from under the rubble after an Israeli airstrike targeted his home in the Saftawi area, north of Gaza. However, he lost 9 members of his family in an image that embodies the brutality of the Israeli occupation and its systematic war to exterminate journalists and erase their families, to prevent them from reporting the crimes of aggression to the world.

Palestinian media broadcasted images showing a fire in the targeted home, which belongs to the Al-Arabeed family, and attempts to rescue him from beneath the debris.

The Qatar Press Center strongly condemns the ongoing extermination of journalists in Gaza by the Israeli occupation, through targeting their homes and locations, to silence free media—an open violation of international law.

Since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on Gaza and over 601 days, the center has documented the assassination of 224 journalists by Israel, with more than 430 injured by Israeli gunfire and missile strikes. Additionally, at least 685 members of journalists’ families have been killed in Gaza (according to official Palestinian sources).

The center notes that journalists in Gaza and the West Bank are being subjected to security harassment, arrests, threats, and the bombing of their homes and press locations to prevent them from telling the truth and to push forward the Israeli narrative built on lies and fabrications.

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

Killing and Assassination

According to the Government Media Office in Gaza: "The number of journalists martyred has risen to 224 since the beginning of the genocide war on Gaza, following the announcement of the martyrdom of journalist Moataz Muhammad Rajab, who worked as a cameraman and editor at Al-Quds Today TV."

In a statement, the office strongly condemned the systematic targeting, killing, and assassination of Palestinian journalists by the Israeli occupation.

The statement called on the International Federation of Journalists, the Federation of Arab Journalists, and all press bodies worldwide to condemn these systematic crimes against Palestinian journalists in Gaza.

It also urged the international community and media-related organizations worldwide to condemn Israeli crimes, deter and prosecute them in international courts, and exert real and effective pressure to stop the genocide and protect journalists in Gaza.

Since the beginning of this war of extermination, Palestinian journalists have faced harsh conditions that threaten their lives daily. Dozens have been killed while covering events on the ground, despite wearing press vests and being in clearly marked locations.

International Appeal

In mid-April, the Qatar Press Center sent an international appeal through official letters to international organizations including "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 personnel in Gaza and the West Bank, who have become direct targets of Israeli killing machinery, the Qatar Press Center calls on UN, human rights, and media organizations to fulfill their responsibility and take immediate action to stop the bloodshed and provide legal and logistical protection for journalists in the Palestinian territories."