Israeli airstrikes/ Gaza Khan Younis/ Lebanon journalists killed/ Hezbollah/ humanitarian crisis/ cease-fire/ Newslooks/ BEIRUT/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Israeli airstrikes in Gaza’s Khan Younis killed 38 people, while strikes in southern Lebanon claimed the lives of three journalists from networks aligned with Hezbollah. As tensions intensify, international calls for a cease-fire grow amid fears of a worsening humanitarian crisis. The journalists’ deaths have sparked accusations of deliberate targeting, though Israel has yet to comment on the incident.
Israel Strikes in Gaza and Lebanon: Quick Looks
- Gaza casualties: Israeli strikes killed 38 people in Khan Younis amid ongoing humanitarian concerns.
- Journalists killed in Lebanon: Three journalists from Hezbollah-aligned networks were killed in an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon.
- International response: The incident has drawn condemnation from press advocacy groups and U.N. officials.
- Symbolic location: The journalists’ guesthouses were struck in Hasbaya, a relatively calm area in the border conflict.
Israeli Strikes Kill 38 in Gaza’s Khan Younis, 3 Journalists in Lebanon
Deep Look
On Friday, Israeli airstrikes intensified across Gaza and southern Lebanon, killing 38 people in the Gaza city of Khan Younis and three journalists in Lebanon. The deadly strikes come amid growing international concern over humanitarian conditions in Gaza, where resources are becoming increasingly scarce, and calls for a cease-fire gain momentum.
The casualties in Gaza’s Khan Younis were reported by local health officials. Gaza’s only operational bakery has seen long lines of civilians desperate for food as supplies dwindle. The area, already deeply affected by previous strikes, continues to suffer as Israeli forces carry out expanded operations following the October 2023 attack on southern Israel by Hamas militants. The deadly attack killed over 1,200 Israelis, leading Israel to launch widespread retaliatory strikes across Gaza and into southern Lebanon.
In Lebanon, the three journalists killed were identified as working for outlets associated with Hezbollah, including Beirut-based Al-Mayadeen TV and Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV. An Israeli airstrike hit the guesthouses in Hasbaya, where many journalists have sought refuge after moving from Marjayoun, a town frequently hit by recent strikes. Photos from the scene show press-marked cars and collapsed buildings covered in debris and dust.
Al-Mayadeen confirmed that two of its staff, camera operator Ghassan Najar and broadcast technician Mohammed Rida, were among the deceased. Al-Manar reported that its cameraman Wissam Qassim was also killed in the attack. Al-Mayadeen’s director, Ghassan bin Jiddo, claimed the strike intentionally targeted journalists documenting the conflict and vowed that the station would continue its reporting despite the risks.
The incident sparked outcry from media rights advocates and Lebanese officials, who condemned the strike as a deliberate attack on journalists. Lebanon’s Information Minister Ziad Makary described the incident as a targeted assassination, claiming that Israel tracked and intentionally hit the site, knowing it was housing media personnel. Makary noted that 18 journalists from seven media organizations were present at the location.
Al-Manar’s prominent correspondent Ali Shoeib expressed grief for the loss of his colleague, saying in a video statement, “We were reporting the news and showing the suffering of the victims, and now we are the news and the victims.” He emphasized that the Israeli military was aware that journalists from multiple organizations were present in the area.
This attack marks the latest in a series of incidents in which journalists have been killed or injured since tensions between Israel and Hezbollah escalated along the border. According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, 11 journalists have been killed and eight others wounded since October 2023, when clashes along the Lebanon-Israel border intensified. In previous incidents, an Al-Mayadeen TV office in Beirut’s southern suburbs was hit earlier in the week, and last year, Israeli shelling killed Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah while wounding journalists from other international news agencies.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that, as of Thursday, 128 journalists have been killed in Gaza since the conflict began. CPJ and other advocacy groups have repeatedly condemned the targeting of media personnel and have questioned Israel’s claim that it does not deliberately target journalists. Israel recently alleged that some journalists in Gaza had links to militant groups, accusations that Al Jazeera and CPJ dismissed as unsubstantiated.
In response to Friday’s strikes, Al-Mayadeen alleged that the Israeli attack was a continuation of efforts to suppress media coverage. Hours before the strike, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Avichay Adraee had engaged in an online exchange with Al-Mayadeen’s war correspondent Ali Mortada, calling him “my enemy” and cautioning him to “take care.” Mortada was not involved in the airstrike incident.
While media organizations have condemned the strike, Israel has yet to provide an official comment on the deaths of the journalists. Advocacy groups and United Nations representatives are pressing for further investigation into the incident, citing previous accusations of targeting media professionals in conflict zones.
The conflict continues to escalate beyond Gaza, with Israel having expanded its operations into southern Lebanon earlier this month, launching a ground invasion. According to Lebanese health officials, airstrikes and shelling over the past day have claimed 19 lives, bringing Lebanon’s overall death toll to 2,593 since October 2023. Israel has said that its efforts target Hezbollah forces and infrastructure, given the longstanding hostilities and recent cross-border attacks attributed to the group.
Israel’s ongoing strikes in Gaza and southern Lebanon have prompted a global response, with international leaders calling for an immediate cease-fire to address the humanitarian crisis. With civilian infrastructure in ruins and shortages affecting Gaza’s population, pressure mounts for both parties to agree to cease hostilities and allow humanitarian aid to reach those in need.
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