Death Toll of Journalist Casualties in Israel-Gaza War Rises to 153

A Palestinian journalist died on Monday from injuries sustained in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, bringing the death toll to 153 since last October, according to reports.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), journalists in Gaza face very high risks as they attempt to cover the conflict during the Israeli ground assault. They are exposed to devastating Israeli airstrikes, disrupted communications, supply shortages, and prolonged power outages. These challenges make it increasingly difficult to document the situation. CPJ is currently investigating nearly 350 additional cases of potential killings, arrests, and injuries.

CPJ Program Director Carlos Martinez de la Serna in New York stated, "Since the war in Gaza began, journalists have paid the highest price—their lives—for their reporting. Despite lacking protection, equipment, international presence, communications, food, and water, they continue to perform their essential duties of disclosing the truth to the world. Each time a journalist is killed, injured, arrested, or forced into exile, we lose pieces of the truth. Those responsible for these casualties will face two trials: one under international law and another before the scrutiny of history."

It's important to note that journalists are civilians and are protected by international law. Deliberately targeting civilians is considered a war crime. In May, the International Criminal Court announced its intention to seek arrest warrant applications for Hamas and Israeli leaders for war crimes and crimes against humanity.