Obtained from CNN
Mohammad Abu Hattab, a Palestinian television correspondent, was killed on Thursday along with numerous family members.
CNN –
A Palestinian television correspondent and 11 members of his family were killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza on Thursday, according to the Palestinian Authority-run television station.
Mohammad Abu Hattab reported live in front of Nasser Hospital in Gaza on Thursday evening; Thirty minutes later, when he returned home, the correspondent was killed, his station reported. The WAFA news agency also reported on his death and that of his family.
The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the incident and CNN could not independently confirm the source of the explosion at the house. Palestine TV has not released any evidence directly linking it to an Israeli attack.
Hattab’s death shocked his newsroom, with Palestinian television journalist Salman Al Bashir reporting in an emotional broadcast that moved one television anchor to tears.
“We can’t take this anymore. We are exhausted, we are victims and martyrs here waiting to die, we are dying one by one and no one cares about us or the great disaster and crime in Gaza,” he said.
“No protection, no international protection at all, no immunity from anything, this protective equipment does not protect us and not these helmets,” Al Bashir continued as he removed his own helmet and protective vest, which had “PRESS” written on it in bright letters .
Palestine TV
Palestinian TV journalist Salman Al Bashir takes off his vest and helmet while giving an emotional on-air report following the death of his Palestinian TV correspondent Mohammad Abu Hattab in Gaza on Thursday.
“These are just slogans that we carry, they don’t protect journalists at all,” he said, his voice cracking.
Al Bashir also said Israel’s weeks-long bombardment of the enclave had become unbearable for Palestinians in Gaza. “When we live on air, we lose one soul after another, without any price, we are considered martyrs, we wait one by one for our turn,” he said.
“Our colleague Mohammad Abu Hattab was here just 30 minutes ago and now he has left us, along with his wife, his brother and many members of his family, victims are now here in the hospital.”
Israel’s airstrikes in the isolated area, reportedly targeting Hamas militants and infrastructure, have killed at least 9,025 people and injured over 22,000, according to the latest figures from the Palestinian Health Ministry in Ramallah, which come from Hamas sources. controlled enclave.
The attacks began after Hamas militants rampaged through Israel on October 7, killing more than 1,400 Israelis and taking over 220 hostage. Since then, Israeli warplanes have struck large residential areas, schools and hospitals in Gaza, sparking outrage in the region and beyond.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has repeatedly ordered Gazans to move to the south of the enclave, but this area has also been hit by deadly attacks. Humanitarian groups say there is no safe place to flee in Gaza.
Hattab’s last on-air report discussed Israeli airstrikes on neighborhoods in the southern city of Khan Younis and the number of casualties, according to a Palestinian television video.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Israel’s war with Hamas, which controls Gaza, has been the deadliest for journalists in decades. At least 33 journalists have been killed since October, the journalists’ organization said on Thursday, including 28 Palestinians, four Israelis and a Lebanese citizen.
Last week, Al Jazeera’s Gaza bureau chief returned to air, less than 24 hours after his family was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Wednesday, the television station said.