Al Jazeera Arabic Journalist Ismail al-Ghoul and Cameraman Rami al-Rifi Killed in Israeli Airstrike on Gaza’s Shati Refugee Camp
Fiona Nanna, ForeMedia
News 5 minutes read. Updated 5:03AM GMT Thurs, 1August, 2024
Al Jazeera Arabic journalist Ismail al-Ghoul and his cameraman Rami al-Rifi were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City. The incident occurred on Wednesday when their vehicle was struck by an Israeli missile while they were en route to report from the area near the Gaza residence of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas. Haniyeh’s recent assassination in Tehran has been attributed to Israel by Hamas.
Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif, who was present at the hospital where the bodies of his colleagues were brought, described the loss as an immeasurable blow. “Ismail was dedicated to conveying the suffering of Palestinians and the atrocities committed against them by the Israeli occupation,” al-Sharif said. “The impact of this tragedy is beyond words.”
Both al-Ghoul and al-Rifi were wearing press vests and had clear media identification on their vehicle at the time of the attack. They had contacted their news desk just 15 minutes prior, reporting an earlier strike on a nearby house and were advised to leave the area immediately. They were headed to Al-Ahli Arab Hospital when the airstrike occurred.
The Israeli government has yet to comment on the incident. Israel has previously denied targeting journalists during its ongoing military operations in Gaza, which have resulted in the deaths of over 39,000 individuals, predominantly women and children. Al Jazeera Media Network condemned the attack as a “targeted assassination” and vowed to pursue legal actions against those responsible.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), at least 111 journalists and media workers have been killed since the conflict began on October 7. The Gaza government media office reports that 165 Palestinian journalists have been killed during the same period.
Mohamed Moawad, Al Jazeera Arabic’s managing editor, praised al-Ghoul for his bravery and commitment to reporting the dire conditions in Gaza. “Ismail’s relentless coverage brought the harsh realities of Gaza to the world’s attention,” Moawad said in a statement. “His voice may have been silenced, but his mission and dedication will not be forgotten.”
The deaths of al-Ghoul and al-Rifi bring the total number of Al Jazeera journalists killed in Gaza since the conflict began to four. The network previously lost journalist Samer Abudaqa in Khan Younis in December and Gaza bureau chief Wael Dahdouh’s family in an air raid. Dahdouh’s son, Hamza, was also killed earlier this year.
The killing of Al Jazeera correspondent Shireen Abu Akleh by an Israeli soldier in May 2022 further underscores the perilous conditions faced by journalists in the region. Despite Israel’s acknowledgment of the likely fatal shooting, no criminal investigation has been pursued.
Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary, reporting from Deir el-Balah, reflected on the constant dangers faced by journalists. “We take every precaution to ensure our safety, but the reality is that we are often targeted in areas where civilians are also at risk,” she stated.
CPJ President Jodie Ginsberg emphasized that the deaths of al-Ghoul and al-Rifi illustrate the severe risks of reporting from conflict zones. “This conflict has proven to be one of the deadliest for journalists that CPJ has documented in 30 years,” Ginsberg said. She noted that at least three journalists have been directly targeted by Israeli forces, with an additional ten cases under investigation.
For further information, read more about the broader context of these attacks and their implications on press freedom hereand here.
