Mohammed Al-Tanani, a 26-year-old Palestinian journalist and the camera operator for the Hamas-owned Al-Aqsa TV channel, was killed when an Israeli drone fired close to his TV crew covering Israeli forces operations in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, according to news reports and his colleague, who spoke to CPJ. The drone strike also injured TV correspondent, Tamer Lubbad.
Both Lubbad and Al-Tanani were wearing “Press” vests and helmets, making them clearly identifiable as journalists, according to videos posted online and Lubbad.
Lubbad told CPJ via messaging app that “we went to monitor and cover the situation after we learned that the Israeli occupation forces are besieging the Jabalia camp and its residents.” Lubbad said the crew filmed their report at an area close to the camp that was not considered dangerous. “After finishing it, and as we were leaving the area at about 4:30 p.m., a drone fired missiles that hit Mohammed directly, which immediately killed him, Lubbad said.
Lubbad told CPJ that “Mohammed Al-Tanani was martyred immediately, as the missile cut through his lower half, and I was hit by shrapnel behind my left shoulder and shrapnel next to my colon.” Lubbad said “repeated and deliberate gunfire” from Israeli forces prevented ambulance crews from reaching Al-Tanani’s body for two hours.
CPJ’s email to the IDF’s North America Media Desk requesting comment on whether these journalists were targeted didn’t receive any immediate response.