Al Jazeera Journalists Victims of Gaza Violence: In a harrowing turn of events, Al Jazeera’s seasoned correspondent in Gaza, Ismail Abu Omar, and his cameraman, Ahmed Mattar, were gravely injured in an Israeli drone strike that took place in Miraj, northern Rafah, on Tuesday. The attack was directed at them while they were fulfilling their journalistic duties, wearing their press vests, to cover the unfolding events in Gaza.
The moment when #Abo_Omar, Al Jazeera’s reporter in #Gaza was targeted by an Israeli drone. While Abo Omar is luckier than another 80+ Journalists who were targeted and murdered by the Israeli army during the war on Gaza, he was badly injured and doctors had to amputate his leg. pic.twitter.com/O6h9t0OhtX
— Amjad Al-Amad 🇯🇴 (@Amjad_Al_Amad) February 13, 2024
Footage from the scene depicts the journalists lying wounded on the ground before being rushed to the hospital, highlighting the grave dangers faced by journalists covering conflict zones.
Following the strike, both Abu Omar and Mattar were promptly transferred to the European Hospital for urgent medical attention, where they are scheduled to undergo surgery.
The extent of Abu Omar’s injuries is such that doctors have deemed it necessary to amputate one of his legs in a bid to save his life. Distressing footage circulating online captured the aftermath of the attack, showing the journalists lying wounded on the ground before being rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Moamen Al Sharafi, another correspondent for Al Jazeera stationed in Gaza, highlighted that the journalists were deliberately targeted by Israeli forces, despite the area being previously declared a safe zone. This incident adds to a series of attacks on journalists providing coverage of the conflict in Gaza.
According to reports from Palestine’s news agency (Wafa), since the onset of the war, the Israeli military’s actions have resulted in the deaths of more than 28,000 Palestinians, including over 116 journalists. The government media office in Gaza condemned the attack, labeling it part of a broader strategy to intimidate journalists and obscure the truth.
Al Jazeera Journalists Become Victims of Gaza Violence
Al Jazeera’s Gaza team has been particularly vulnerable, facing numerous threats and attacks. Notably, in previous months, Israel targeted Wael Dahdouh, a prominent journalist and Gaza bureau chief for Al Jazeera, resulting in the deaths of several members of his family. Dahdouh himself was injured in a separate incident, and tragically, his son Hamza lost his life in yet another attack.
Beyond Al Jazeera, the safety of journalists in Gaza remains a concern, with other reporters having to evacuate the area due to threats from Israeli forces. The targeting of journalists, including the recent attack on Abu Omar and Mattar, underscores the risks faced by media personnel striving to document the realities of conflict zones.
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