Five Palestinian journalists killed by Israeli airstrike: report

The Gaza Health Ministry reported Thursday that an Israeli airstrike killed five Palestinian journalists in the Gaza Strip. 

The strike happened outside of the Al-Awda Hospital, and the journalists were working for the Quds News Network, according to NPR.

The Israeli Defense Forces stated that they were targeting militants from Islamic Jihad.

The Committee to Protect Journalists said that over 130 Palestinian journalists have been killed since the war started between Israel and Hamas began in 2023.

The group also said Thursday the five journalists and media workers were with with Al-Quds Al-Youm TV, a channel affiliated with the Islamic Jihad militant group

The Associated Press reported that footage showed the van had visible press markings.

“CPJ denounces Israel’s killing of five journalists working for Al-Quds Al-Youm TV,” said Carlos Martinez de la Serna, CPJ’s program director in New York. 

“The Israeli strike on their vehicle, which was clearly marked ‘Press,’ means that at least nine Gazan journalists have been killed in less than two weeks. The international community must act now to protect Palestinian journalists in Gaza and end Israel’s impunity for these killings.”

The war in Gaza followed Hama's Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel and killed 1,200 people.