Gaza: Israeli Airstrikes Kill Palestinian Journalists Alaa Taher Al Hassanat and Ayat Khadoura
Journalists die after Israeli bombs hit their homes in Gaza City and Beit Lahia
Location: Gaza, Gaza City / Beit Lahia
Date: November 20, 2023
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is devastated by the tragic loss of two Palestinian women journalists, Alaa Taher Al Hassanat and Ayat Khadoura, who were killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. At least 50 journalists have been killed since the Israel-Gaza war erupted on October 7. Five women journalists have been killed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. We demand an end to Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and call for an immediate ceasefire.
On November 20, Alaa Taher Al Hassanat, a seasoned reporter and presenter at AlMajedat Media Network, was killed along with multiple family members when an airstrike hit her home in Gaza City's Al-Daraj neighborhood.
The same day, Ayat Khadoura, a freelance journalist, was killed in a shelling of her home in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza. In a haunting video posted shortly before her death, Khadoura expressed her fear for her life, narrating the terrifying situation in her area following the use of white phosphorous and thermobaric bombs.
Journalist Ayat Al-Khadour documents the last moments of her life in Beit Lahia in the northern #Gaza Strip, before being killed along with her entire family in an Israeli airstrike. This was the last video she posted on her Instagram account. pic.twitter.com/aahitpnKPp
— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) November 21, 2023
"This could possibly be my last video," Khadoura said, in tears. "The situation is very frightening, and the whole thing is very terrifying. May our lord have mercy on us."
Al-Hassanat, who had previously documented her experiences living under Israeli bombardment in a poignant article a year after the 2014 conflict escalation, was a dedicated journalist committed to conveying the truth of conflicts.
Since the eruption of the conflict on October 7, at least 53 journalists have been confirmed dead, with others missing, detained, or grievously injured. Seven women journalists, including Al Hassanat, Al-Khadour, Salam Mema, Salma Mukhaimer, and Duaa Sharaf, have lost their lives, with five killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism strongly condemns the killing of journalists Alaa Taher Al Hassanat and Ayat Khadoura. We extend our deepest condolences to their families and colleagues and all journalists who have lost their lives in this war.
The toll on journalists in this conflict is unprecedented, marking it as the deadliest for press workers in 30 years. The ongoing killing must stop. International humanitarian law protects journalists working in war zones. Deliberately targeting the press is a war crime. The international community must take immediate action to ensure the safety and protection of journalists working in Gaza. We urgently call for an end to hostilities. Both Hamas and the Israeli Defense Forces must cease targeting civilians and implement an immediate ceasefire to allow sufficient humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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