Mahmoud Samir Islim Al-Basos, a 25-year-old Palestinian photojournalist who contributed to Reuters and Anadolu news wires, was killed in an Israeli drone strike on March 15, 2025, that targeted him and a team of aid workers in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, according to multiple news reports and sources who spoke to CPJ.
Former journalist Mahmoud Sarraj, a 25-year-old Palestinian photographer who contributed to multiple outlets including the Gaza-based Ain Media production company, was among the aid workers killed. Sarraj was the brother of the slain journalist Roshdi Sarraj, the co-founder of Ain Media, who was killed on October 22, 2023 in Gaza.
Al Basos, who published under the names of Mahmoud Islim and Mahmoud Al-Basos, was operating a drone in northern Gaza to document the one of the displacement camps established by the London-based Al-Khair Foundation (AKF) in the town of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip, during the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that began on January 19, 2025. On March 18, Israel resumed operations with extensive strikes that killed hundreds of Gazans.
Al-Basos was well known for his drone photography, which showed widespread destruction in Gazafrom extensive bombing by Israel Defense Forces (IDF). His photos were widely used by media outlets. Al-Basos studied journalism and media at Al-Quds Open University and graduated in 2023.
Al-Basos’s friend and colleague, photographer Shadi Al-Tabatibi told CPJ that Al-Basos began working as a journalist at the beginning of the Israel-Gaza war in 2023, but had previously trained with in the field with Al-Tabatibi, who became Al-Basos's partner and who owns the drone Al-Basos was using. Al Tabatibi, who currently resides in Egypt, told CPJ that Al-Basos and the media director of AKF were working together to document the opening of several camps for displaced persons from the northern, central, and southern Gaza Strip.
The sole survivor of the attack, Ibrahim Sirdah, a driver for AKF, recounted the incident in a video published by local outlets: "We were opening a camp on land north of Beit Lahia. After the camp was opened, we were targeted the first time, and two colleagues were martyred. Then the second attack occurred by Israeli aircraft, and the entire team was martyred. I was the only survivor in the second car." He continued: "In the second missile, we were unable to do anything. We only heard the sound of the explosion. I lost consciousness in the car, but when I regained consciousness, I turned around and found their bodies torn apart. I was afraid they would target the car again, so I quickly got out." Sirdah said they were “only doing good, delivering tents to those whose homes had been destroyed in the northern Gaza Strip.”
Israeli army spokesman for Arabic media, Avichay Adraee, in posts on Facebook and X, accused the journalist and aid workers of “operating within a terrorist cell under the guise of media professionals.” Adraee mentioned Sarraj and Al-Basos, along with 4 other employees of the organization, whose names were incorrectly spelled in the post. Adraee added: “IDF attacked a terrorist cell, including a terrorist who crossed the border during the horrific October 7 massacre. The terrorists operated a drone aimed at promoting terrorist plots against IDF forces operating in the Gaza Strip. Available intelligence indicates that the drone was being used continuously by … Islamic Jihad, even during its operation today." Adraee didn’t provide any evidence for the terrorism claims, which were repeated in Israeli media.
AKF denied the accusations in a statement posted on X and in an Al Jazeera video. Speaking to CPJ, Mohammed Hasna, the head of AKF’s the international offices, said that the drone operated far from the IDF and did not reveal Israeli army locations. He added, "The Israeli occupation published its narrative accusing the working group, including the photographers and journalists, of belonging to subversive groups because it knew that the foundation was British, and that British MPs could have taken up the issue. Therefore, the statement is purely defensive.”
Tareq Al-Basos, Mahmoud's cousin, told CPJ that the journalist was wearing a press vest and helmet when he was targeted by Israeli drones.Tareq Al-Basos said: "The occupation killed Mahmoud's older brother a few months ago.” After Mahmoud’s death, only one middle brother remains alive, Tareq Al-Basos said.
CPJ’s emailed the IDF’s North America Media Desk inquiring whether it knew that civilians and journalists were in the area it attacked, whether Al-Basos was targeted for his work, and whether it had any evidence for Adraee’s claims of terrorism. The IDF responded on March 24, reiterating claims that its forces struck "terrorists" who operated "under the cover of journalists" and intended to use a drone to attack IDF forces. The IDF provided no evidence to support its claims.