Maisara Salah, a 22-year-old Palestinian video editor, camera operator, and graphic designer who freelanced for the Ramallah-based privately owned news agency Quds News Network lived in the Sheikh Zayed area of northern Gaza.
He died on November 30, 2024, after being injured on November 27 in an Israeli drone strike near Awni al-Harthani School, which was sheltering displaced people, in Beit Lahia, according to multiple media reports and his brother who spoke to CPJ.
“A belt of fire occurred through Israeli warplanes’ shelling around the Awni al-Harthani School, which he was in. And while he was moving to another place, an Israeli quadcopter drone fired bullets at him and injured him,” Jawad Salah, Maisara’s brother, told CPJ, adding that the journalist was admitted to hospital.
“He remained injured until Saturday, and we were informed that his condition had begun to stabilize and that he would be transferred from Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia to the Ahli-Baptist Hospital in Gaza City,” Jawad Salah said. “The ambulance moved on Saturday afternoon to transport him and complete his treatment. But the Israeli occupation army stopped the ambulance, after learning that Maisara had been working in the media for about eight hours at the checkpoint separating the northern Gaza Strip from Gaza City. He was then allowed to pass to the Ahli-Baptist Hospital, where he was martyred late Saturday evening.”
CPJ’s email to the Israel Defense Forces’ North America Media Desk asking whether the military knew there was a journalist in the area it attacked and whether Salah was targeted for his work did not immediately receive a response.