Israel Says Gaza Journalist Killed In Strike Was Hamas Operative, Al Jazeera Disputes Claim

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Israeli military has stated that a journalist killed during a recent strike in Gaza was a member of Hamas, an assertion strongly rejected by Al Jazeera.

In a message posted on X, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that it had “eliminated” Muhammad Samir Muhammad Washah. The military alleged that he was “a Hamas terrorist operating under the guise of an Al Jazeera journalist.”

According to the IDF, Washah played a role in the group’s weapons operations.

“Washah, a key terrorist in Hamas’ rocket & weapons production HQ, was also involved in the production and transfer of weapons through Gaza,” the IDF said.

“The terrorist was actively involved in planning attacks against IDF troops & posed a concrete threat to forces in the area,” it added.

The statement followed earlier reports that an Al Jazeera correspondent, identified as Mohammed Wishah, died after an Israeli strike hit his vehicle in Gaza City.

Al Jazeera rejected the Israeli account and described the killing as intentional. The network condemned the incident and accused Israeli forces of targeting journalists.

“Al Jazeera Media Network strongly condemns the heinous crime of targeting and killing Al Jazeera Mubasher correspondent, Mohammed Wishah,” the network said.

“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,” it added.

The organisation maintained that the attack was deliberate.

“As Al Jazeera mourns its correspondent Mohammed Wishah… it affirms that his killing was not a random act but a deliberate and targeted crime intended to intimidate journalists,” the statement read.

“The targeting of Wishah represents another episode in a series of deliberate attacks against journalists,” warning of “a dangerous escalation aimed at media professionals,” Al Jazeera said.

The network also called for accountability.

“Al Jazeera holds Israeli occupation forces fully responsible for the killing,” the network said, adding that it would pursue “all necessary legal avenues to bring those responsible to justice.”

The death of Wishah adds to the growing number of journalists killed in Gaza since October 2023. Al Jazeera said the figure has reached 262.