Al Jazeera journalist Ismail al-Ghoul and cameraman Rami al-Rifi were killed in an airstrike on the Gaza Strip on July 31, according to the Washington Post. The journalists were covering events near the home of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who had been killed earlier in Tehran.
Details of the Incident
Local reporters indicated that two airstrikes occurred in quick succession. The first strike hit Ismail Haniyeh’s home, where people had gathered following his death. Several news crews, including Al Jazeera journalists Ghoul and Rifi, were present to cover the aftermath. At approximately 4 p.m., just before the first strike, the Al Jazeera crew was concluding their report when reconnaissance planes began flying overhead, and the first missile struck the western side of Haniyeh’s home. There were no immediate casualties from this strike, and the journalists attempted to evacuate the scene swiftly.
Witness Ayman al-Hissi reported that the second strike occurred around 5 p.m., targeting the car carrying Ghoul and Rifi, killing them instantly. Additionally, a young bystander was killed in the strike, and his body was evacuated by ambulance.
Reactions and Statements
Al Jazeera Arabic chief Mohamed Moawad expressed deep sorrow over the loss, praising al-Ghoul as a "determined journalist who did not give in to hunger, illness, or the loss of his brother." Moawad highlighted that al-Ghoul "tirelessly covered events in Gaza and brought the truth to the world."
Witnesses have accused Israel of deliberately targeting the journalists, despite them wearing vests marked with "Press." Al Jazeera condemned the attack in a statement to the Washington Post, denouncing “the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces against journalists and media professionals in Gaza” and urging international legal institutions to hold Israel accountable.
Journalistic Casualties in Gaza
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), as of July 31, at least 111 journalists and media workers have been killed since October, 109 of whom were Palestinians. The first four months of the Gaza conflict saw over 85 journalists killed, bringing the total number of journalists killed in Gaza to 165. This period has been the deadliest for journalists since 1992, with local reporters often risking their lives to document events.
A Gaza reporter who spent much of the day with the Al Jazeera team told CNN that he was 300 meters (1,000 feet) away when the rocket struck the journalists' car. Video footage from the scene showed the burned-out hull of a small sedan, indicating an attack from above. Resident Ayman Abed from the al-Shati camp recounted,
“I was walking home near where we were filming when one, exactly one, drone missile targeted Ismail and Rami. There was nothing out of the ordinary except the sound of drones buzzing in the sky. It was one hit on their car.”
The Israeli offensive began after Hamas attacks on October 7 killed 1,200 people and resulted in over 250 abductions. Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip have resulted in more than 39,000 Palestinian deaths and 90,000 injuries, according to the Health Ministry.
Comments (0)