On January 21, 2026, Mohammad Qeshta, a spokesperson for the Egyptian Committee who reported news to his large Telegram following, was murdered alongside two other journalists in an Israeli drone strike on a vehicle in central Gaza during an ongoing ceasefire.
The two other journalist killed were freelance photojournalist Abed Shaat, a contributor to Agence France-Presse (AFP)and CBS News, and Anas Ghnaim, a freelance photographer and drone operator who worked for Smart Media.
According to Palestinian Press Agency, the photographers were traveling to cover a refugee camp managed by the Egyptian Committee, which oversees Egypt’s humanitarian projects in Gaza.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that they targeted a vehicle in Gaza, stating that they suspected the individuals inside of operating a drone to gather intelligence on Israeli soldiers.