Four leading international news agencies, Agence France-Presse (AFP), The Associated Press (AP), BBC, and Reuters, have issued a joint statement calling on the Israeli government to provide evidence justifying the airstrike that killed one of their journalists in Gaza in January.
The incident, which occurred on 7 January 2024 in Rafah, resulted in the death of Mohammad Abu Hattab, a video journalist working for Al Jazeera, and injuries to six other journalists. The journalists were clearly identifiable as members of the press at the time of the strike.
The four news organisations stated they have not received any evidence from Israeli authorities supporting claims that the journalists were affiliated with terrorist groups or that the vehicle they were travelling in was a legitimate military target.
The agencies also noted that the journalists were accredited with press credentials, and there is no indication they were participating in hostilities or posed any threat. The vehicle was marked as a press car, and the journalists were wearing protective equipment labelled "Press".
The joint statement followed a visit by senior representatives of the four organisations to Israel, where they met officials from the Israeli military and the Prime Minister’s Office. During the meeting, the agencies requested information on the airstrike and the rationale behind it. The officials declined to share operational details or evidence, citing national security.
The statement expressed concern that the failure to provide justification raises serious questions about the safety of journalists covering the conflict. The agencies reiterated that journalists must be able to operate freely and safely under international law, and that attacks on members of the media require independent investigation and accountability.
The incident is part of a broader pattern of journalist casualties in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Since 7 October 2023, when hostilities escalated, dozens of journalists and media workers have been killed, most of them Palestinian. International press freedom groups have called for full transparency and impartial inquiries into all incidents involving media personnel.
The four news organisations concluded their statement by calling on the Israeli government to clarify its policies on the protection of journalists in conflict zones and to engage with international standards governing press freedom and safety.
