Spanish
Journalist Islam al Koumi died this Tuesday in the Gaza Strip, the Gazan government reported, which raises to 239 the number of journalists, influencers, and other content creators killed since the beginning of the Israeli offensive in the enclave since October 2023.
The local government did not offer details about Al Koumi's death, but Palestinian local media indicated that he died in an Israeli bombing of his neighborhood, Al Sabra, in Gaza City, according to the Qatari channel Al Jazeera.
In their statement, Gaza authorities "strongly" condemned what they called a systematic attack by the "Israeli occupation" against Palestinian journalists, and held Israel "fully" responsible for the death of Al Koumi, who worked as a news editor and content creator on various platforms.
They also urged international press organizations, such as the International Federation of Journalists and the Federation of Arab Journalists, to condemn these crimes.
A large number of these professionals have lost their lives in direct attacks by the Israeli Army.
The most recent was on August 11, when a bombing killed reporters Anas al Sharif - considered the target of the attack - and Mohammed Qreiqeh, as well as cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa, all from the Qatari channel Al Jazeera, as well as journalist Mohammed Khalidi, from the digital platform Sahat.
Al Jazeera maintains a deployment of correspondents throughout the Strip, essential for informing the Arab world about the Israeli offensive in a territory where Israel prevents access to the international press.
For its part, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), which has described this conflict as one of the deadliest for the press in decades, also counts the journalists who have died in Gaza, although it offers a lower figure: 184 since October 2023.
In May, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) requested that the International Criminal Court (ICC) officially recognize Palestinian journalists as victims - and not just as witnesses - in the investigation of possible war crimes.
"Being recognized as victims is a first step towards justice, truth, and reparation, as well as essential for protecting freedom of the press in conflict zones," the organization stated.
When the Army's attacks are specifically directed against Gazan journalists, Israel usually alleges the deceased's membership in the militias in the enclave.
However, when repeatedly asked for evidence linking the murdered communicators to armed groups, the Army does not offer verifiable evidence.
