Israel Claims Proof of Six Gaza Journalists' Terror Affiliations while Media Denies; 128 Journos Killed so far by IDF

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The Israel-Palestine conflict has claimed 128 journalists' lives, mostly Palestinians, in what the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) calls the deadliest period for the press, with extreme risks from airstrikes, displacement, and targeted attacks.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Wednesday released intelligence documents alleging that six Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza are operatives for Hamas and the Islamic Jihad terrorist organizations. The six journalists identified by the IDF include Anas Jamal Mahmoud Al-Sharif, Alaa Abdul Aziz Muhammad Salama, Hossam Basel Abdul Karim Shabat, Ashraf Sami Ashour Saraj, Ismail Farid Muhammad Abu Omar, and Talal Mahmoud Abdul Rahman Aruki.

The documents, recovered in the Gaza Strip, reportedly include personnel tables, phone directories, and lists of terrorist training courses and salaries. According to the IDF, these records serve as "unequivocal proof" of the journalists' military involvement in Hamas and Islamic Jihad operations in Gaza. One of the accused, Ismail Farid Muhammad Abu Omar, was reportedly injured in Gaza several months ago, with the documents allegedly confirming his ongoing involvement in “terrorism.”

Alleged Media-Terrorist Connections

The Israeli military claims that many of the identified journalists actively support Hamas propaganda, especially in northern Gaza, using their media roles at Qatar-based Al Jazeera. The network, however, has denied any such connections, releasing a statement that "vehemently condemns" the allegations. Al Jazeera expressed concerns that Israel might use these accusations as justification for targeting the journalists.

This disclosure comes amid rising tensions in the ongoing conflict, with the IDF stressing the dangers posed by what it describes as the integration of terrorists into international media outlets like Al Jazeera. These documents allegedly highlight a systematic effort to use journalism as a cover for military activities, a claim that remains unverified by external sources.

Journalists Deny Allegations

Hossam Basel Abdul Karim Shabat, one of the accused journalists, responded with a statement calling the accusations fabricated. He claimed the dossiers were designed to "frame" the last remaining journalists reporting from northern Gaza. Shabat suggested that the Israeli military's intent was to transform journalists into "killable targets" to justify their deaths.

He referenced the killing of Ismail Al Ghoul, another Al Jazeera journalist, who was reportedly framed by Israel after his death. “We would like to remind everyone that after murdering our colleague Ismail Al Ghoul, Israel released a document that claimed he supposedly received a military ranking on July 1, 2007, when he would have been a 10-year-old child,” he said.

Shabat accused Israel of conducting a "systematic propaganda campaign" to justify civilian and journalist casualties, including doctors and aid workers.

Israel Destroys Only Firetruck in North Gaza

Israeli claims came shortly after Shabat posted on social media that Civil Defense in Gaza had halted operations in North Gaza due to a "catastrophic" situation, with no humanitarian services available. Shabat reported Israeli forces arresting personnel, destroying the only fire truck, and that three workers targeted by a drone were missing. The accused journalists claim North Gaza is being "wiped out," with medical staff, civil defense, and hospitals now out of service, leaving the area without ambulances or emergency crews.

123 of 128 Journalists Killed were Palestinians

As of October 23, 128 journalists have been confirmed killed (123 Palestinian, 2 Israeli, and 3 Lebanese), 41 injured, 2 missing, and 69 arrested. “At least 128 journalists and media workers are among the tens of thousands killed in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel, and Lebanon since the war began, making it the deadliest period for journalists since CPJ began gathering data in 1992,” according to a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).