Veteran Palestinian journalist Maryam Daqqa has been killed after an Israeli airstrike struck her family home in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, according to multiple reports from local media and press freedom organisations.
The attack, which occurred on Tuesday, also resulted in the death of several members of her family, adding to the devastating toll on media workers throughout the ongoing conflict.
Daqqa, who worked for various Palestinian media outlets throughout her career, was known for her extensive reporting on women's and social issues within Gaza.
Mounting Death Toll Among Journalists
Her death brings the number of journalists and media workers killed since the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war on October 7th to over 140, according to the Gaza-based government media office. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has previously reported that more journalists were killed in the first ten weeks of this conflict than in any single country over an entire year since they began recording data.
The Israeli military has repeatedly stated it targets Hamas operatives and infrastructure, asserting that the militant group embeds itself within civilian areas. However, these operations have resulted in widespread casualties, with the Hamas-run health ministry reporting over 37,000 deaths in Gaza.
International Condemnation and Calls for Protection
The targeting of media personnel has drawn sharp international criticism and raised serious concerns about the protection of journalists in conflict zones. Press freedom advocates continue to call for independent investigations into these deaths and for all parties to respect the safety of journalists operating in Gaza.
The conflict began after Hamas militants launched an attack on southern Israel on October 7th, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages. Israel's subsequent military campaign has led to a severe humanitarian crisis within the besieged Palestinian territory.
