By Sabiu Abdullahi
An Al Jazeera correspondent, Mohammed Wishah, has lost his life after an Israeli strike reportedly hit his vehicle in Gaza City.
The incident happened amid ongoing clashes despite a ceasefire brokered by the United States to ease tensions. Wishah’s death has increased concern over the rising number of journalists killed in the conflict.
According to Al Jazeera, the strike directly hit his vehicle, killing him at the scene. Details surrounding the attack remain uncertain, and Israeli authorities have not issued an immediate response.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the network said: “Al Jazeera Media Network strongly condemns the heinous crime of targeting and killing Al Jazeera Mubasher correspondent, Mohammed Wishah, following a strike on the vehicle in which he was travelling west of the Gaza Strip.
“This constitutes a new and flagrant violation of all international laws and norms, and reflects a continued systematic policy of targeting journalists and silencing the voice of truth.”
The organisation described the incident as part of a broader pattern of attacks against media workers. It said the development signals an escalation that threatens press freedom and limits coverage from the region.
“Mohammed Wishah joins the ranks of Al Jazeera journalists killed by Israeli occupation forces in Gaza: Samer Abu Daqqa, Hamza Al Dahdouh, Ismail Al Ghoul, Ahmed Al Louh, Hossam Shabat, Ibrahim Thaher, Mohammed Qreiqea, Mohammed Nofal, Anas Al Sharif, and Mohammed Salama,” Al Jazeera said.
“As Al Jazeera mourns its correspondent Mohammed Wishah, who joined the Network in 2018, it affirms that his killing was not a random act but a deliberate and targeted crime intended to intimidate journalists and prevent them from carrying out their professional duties.”
The network said it holds Israeli forces responsible for the incident. It added that the action forms part of a consistent pattern aimed at silencing its reporters and restricting coverage on the ground.
Al Jazeera extended condolences to the family and colleagues of the deceased. It stated that such incidents will not stop its work. The organisation also urged the international community and rights groups to act. It called for accountability and an end to attacks on journalists.
The network said it will pursue legal steps to ensure justice for its staff and other journalists killed in Gaza.
Wishah’s death brings the number of Palestinian journalists killed since October 2023 to 262. The figure has raised fresh concerns among press freedom groups about the safety of reporters in conflict zones.
Elsewhere in Gaza, violence has continued. Health officials said at least 10 people died in an Israeli airstrike near a school that sheltered displaced residents in central Gaza.
“At least 10 people were killed and dozens injured, including six in critical condition, by Israeli shelling and clashes east of Maghazi refugee camp,” the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said in a statement.
Witnesses reported that drones fired missiles during the incident. The attack followed clashes between residents and members of a militia said to have Israeli backing.
“The residents tried to defend their homes, but the occupation forces targeted them directly,” Ahmed al-Maghazi told Reuters.
The latest developments have increased scrutiny on conditions faced by journalists and civilians in Gaza, where access to safe environments remains limited amid continued military operations.