Al Jazeera has firmly rejected claims by the Israeli military that Ismail al-Ghoul, a correspondent killed in an air strike in Gaza, was a Hamas operative involved in the October 7 attacks.
Disturbing footage circulated on social media displayed Ismail al-Ghoul’s decapitated body, the tragic result of the air strike on his vehicle in Gaza City on Wednesday. His cameraman, Rami al-Rifi, and a young boy named Khalid Shawa, who was passing by on a bicycle, were also tragically killed in the incident.
As regional news has been overshadowed by other high-profile assassinations, many Palestinians are drawing attention to the killing of the well-known journalist.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) characterized al-Ghoul as a “Hamas military wing operative and Nukhba terrorist,” alleging his involvement in activities against IDF troops. The IDF claimed he was responsible for instructing others in operational documentation and publicizing attacks.
Al Jazeera condemned these assertions as “baseless,” asserting that they reflect Israel’s history of disseminating falsehoods to obscure its actions. Al-Ghoul’s brother emphasized that he was a civilian dedicated to showcasing the plight of the Palestinian people in Gaza City.
Working from Gaza City, Ismail al-Ghoul had become a prominent voice for the Qatar-based news channel, which has faced ongoing scrutiny from Israeli officials.
During Friday prayers, which were held in memory of late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran, many Palestinians also mourned those lost closer to home. Local resident Maha Sarsak expressed her sorrow, sharing how she relied on al-Ghoul’s updates amid the conflict.
Journalists in Gaza paid tribute to al-Ghoul and al-Rifi, symbolically laying down their flak jackets in a poignant demonstration of solidarity.
Reports highlighted that Ismail al-Ghoul previously covered significant events, including the IDF’s raid on Shifa Hospital in March, where he was detained for 12 hours and released without charges, an experience that Al Jazeera argues disproves any affiliation with militant groups.
The two journalists were on assignment to gather reactions regarding Haniyeh’s death when their vehicle was struck close to his destroyed residence in the Shati Camp.
International media has faced severe restrictions in Gaza during the ongoing conflict, with Israel denying access to journalists except under tightly regulated circumstances. Egypt also limited entry through the Rafah border crossing prior to its closure.
Over recent months, many networks have adjusted to the operational challenges by employing local Palestinian staff for crucial ground coverage.
Al Jazeera reported that Ismail al-Ghoul had been with the channel since November, revealing that he faced tremendous personal losses throughout the ongoing war, including the deaths of family members.
Additionally, colleagues noted al-Rifi’s technical skills were instrumental in assisting their filming efforts.
In the wake of the attack, the grieving mother of Khalid Shawa publicly sought to ensure her son’s identity would not be lost among the statistics of war casualties. “My son is not an unidentified martyr,” she stated emphatically. “We must say the names of our martyrs. They should not talk about us as numbers.”
Al Jazeera has decried the series of recent attacks against its personnel and their families in Gaza. The network has faced numerous assaults on its staff, including a tragic incident involving bureau chief Wael Dahdouh, who received devastating news on-air regarding the loss of his family in an Israeli airstrike.
The United Nations has called for a thorough investigation into the killings of journalists in Gaza, asserting that the protection of media workers is a global imperative.
The number of journalists killed since the onset of the renewed conflict continues to rise, with various sources documenting the fatalities amid the ongoing violence. According to recent reports, the toll has reached 113 journalists, encompassing 108 Palestinians, three Lebanese, and two Israelis amidst the turmoil that followed the October 7 attacks.
