Ibrahim Muhareb, a 26-year-old Palestinian freelance journalist, who worked with multiple outlets including the local Al-Hadath newspaper, was killed when an Israeli tank fired towards a group of journalists reporting in the Hamad city area, northwest of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, according to multiple news reports. Freelance journalist Salma Al-Qaddoumi was also injured in the incident.
The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate (PJS) posted two videos from the scene. Footage shot by freelance video journalist Ezzeddine Muasher, who works with multiple outlets including the Turkish state-owned Anadolu Agency, shows an Israeli tank heading towards him and opening fire. The sound of shooting continues as Muasher and several other journalists, at least two of whom were wearing “Press” vests, run for safety while shouting out to Muhareb, who they say has been injured. In journalist Rasha Ahmed’s video, there is the sound of shooting and shouting as she runs away.
Describing Muhareb as an active member of the journalists’ union, PJS also posted Ahmed’s description of the incident involving her and the four other journalists, Muhareb, Muasher, Al-Qaddoumi, and Saeed Al-Lulu. Ahmed said that a military tank suddenly advanced from the Al-Hawz area in the northwestern part of Hamad city and opened heavy fire on the journalists. Some reporters lay on the ground for more than five minutes due to the intense gunfire, until they were “miraculously” able to get out. Al-Qaddoumi also tried to run, unaware that her back was injured, but fell to the ground. Ahmed and Al-Lulu rescued Al-Qaddoumi and found a cart and then a car to transport her to hospital, the PJS report said.
“It was a trap,” Ahmed, a freelance journalist for several media outlets including the Saudi broadcaster Al-Hadath TV, told CPJ. “We went to the area thinking that the Israeli occupation had withdrawn and let us advance, until we were surprised by the advance of a number of Israeli tanks in the area. They started shooting at us directly, and Ibrahim Muharab was injured first, then Salma Al-Qaddoumi. We hid in a nearby area until we were able to withdraw.”
On August 19, Al-Qaddoumi told CPJ by phone that the group of journalists reported from “a place far from the presence of tanks” but “a number of tanks suddenly appeared in the area after filming had ended.”
“The tanks fired shells and bullets at us, and Ibrahim was hit directly. He asked me to help him leave the place, and I went with one of the displaced people in the area to rescue him, but the tanks fired more shells and bullets at us. At that moment, I was hit in the back by two (pieces of) shrapnel, either from the shells or the bullets. I then lost consciousness and found myself in the hospital, and no one was able to rescue Ibrahim because of the intensity of the gunfire,” she told CPJ.
Ambulance workers were unable to retrieve Muharab’s body until the next morning and he was buried later that day, together with his “Press” vest.
CPJ’s email requesting comment from the IDF’s North America desk did not receive any response.