Palestinian journalist killed by an Israeli drone while hospitalised

Palestinian journalist Hassan Islayeh was killed by an Israeli drone strike while he was being treated at the Nasser Hospital of Khan Younis on May 13th, Middle East Eye reported.

A leading field reporter and director of Alam24 news agency, Islayeh, was recovering after suffering injuries due to another Israeli strike in April. That strike caused the deaths of two journalists and resulted in several other people sustaining wounds.

Ahmed Aziz, a Middle East Eye correspondent, stated Islayeh had an immense influence on the journalists he worked with. Islayeh declared that he only wished that his possible death would not lead to the death of other affiliated journalists. Reportedly, the journalist had made an effort to financially support the families of two media reporters killed in an April strike.

According to local media, the attack of May 13th was a “deliberate assassination.” The late journalist had reportedly experienced incitement in Israeli media. This was mostly because of his media coverage of the attacks on Israel that took place on October 7th 2023.

Israeli forces accused Islayeh of being connected to Hamas, but they provided no evidence to support the allegations. Shortly before the killing, the journalist rejected such accusations against him and his coverage of the violent conflict.

The UN’s human rights office accused Israel of its “pattern of deadly attacks, external on an near hospitals in Gaza.” Israel’s actions amount to war crimes and the breach of international law, according to the UN, the BBC reported on May 13th.

Israeli forces killed an Al Jazeera correspondent along with a Palestinian journalist in separate Gaza strikes, Middle East Eye reported on March 24th. Israel killed Mohammed Mansour, a Palestine Today correspondent, in an air strike north of Khan Younis. Al Jazeera Mubasher correspondent, Hussam Shabat, died after an air strike hit his car on Salah al-Din Street, north Gaza.

The government-media office based in Gaza, said: “This double crime reflects a deliberate insistence on targeting Palestinian journalists – not only in the field, but even in hospitals while they are receiving treatment.” The office also said: “It is a flagrant violation of all human values and international agreements and represents a clear attempt to silence the free voice and suppress the truth.”

BBC, Middle East Eye