Al Jazeera has “firmly” rejected “baseless” Israeli accusations that the community’s correspondent, Ismail al-Ghoul, killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza, was a Hamas operative.
The Doha-based broadcaster stated Thursday that the accusation, which Israel has made with out proof, is an try to justify the “deliberate homicide” of al-Ghoul and his fellow cameraman, Rami al-Rifi.
The 2 journalists have been killed in a direct Israeli airstrike on their car within the Shati refugee camp in northern Gaza on Wednesday.
Al Jazeera stated the cost in opposition to al-Ghoul “highlights the lengthy historical past of fabrications and false proof utilized by Israel to cowl up its heinous crimes,” noting that the nation has banned worldwide journalists from getting into Gaza.
“Moreover, the Israeli occupation forces had beforehand kidnapped Ismail on March 18, 2024, throughout their raid on Al-Shifa Hospital, detaining him for a time frame earlier than his launch, which discredits and refutes his false declare of his affiliation with any group,” the community added.
The slain correspondent stated on the time that Israeli forces detained him and different journalists and compelled them to lie face down with their eyes coated and their palms tied for a number of hours.
“Ismail joined Al Jazeera in November 2023, devoting all his effort and time to protecting the battle in Gaza, documenting the atrocities of Israeli forces in Gaza Metropolis and reporting on the untold struggling of Palestinians in Gaza,” Al Jazeera Media Community stated on Thursday.
“Al Jazeera Media Community requires an unbiased worldwide investigation into the brutal and atrocious crimes dedicated by the Israeli occupation forces in opposition to its journalists and workers for the reason that starting of the battle in Gaza.”
In its assertion, the Israeli army appeared to substantiate that it had intentionally focused Al-Ghoul, boasting that the journalist had been “eradicated.”
“As a part of his function within the army wing, al-Ghoul instructed different operatives on learn how to file operations and was actively concerned in recording and publishing assaults in opposition to [Israeli] troops,” the Israeli army stated.
“Their actions on the bottom have been an important a part of Hamas’ army exercise.”
Because the battle in Gaza broke out, Israel has claimed – principally with out proof – that its assaults on Palestinians are a part of the marketing campaign in opposition to Hamas.
The Israeli army has shelled faculties, hospitals and displacement camps, claiming it was focusing on Hamas fighters. Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza has killed no less than 39,480 Palestinians and lowered giant components of the besieged territory to rubble.
When Israel killed Hamza Dahdouh, the eldest son of Al Jazeera’s Gaza bureau chief and a journalist, in January, it additionally accused him of being a part of Hamas, an accusation rejected by the community and press freedom teams.
Hamza Dahdouh was killed alongside together with his fellow journalist Mustafa Thuraya.
Israel had given conflicting justifications for the assault. Initially, it claimed that it had focused Dahdouh and Thuraya for utilizing a digicam drone, assuming they posed a risk to Israeli forces. Dahdouh and Thuraya have been sporting vests that clearly recognized them as journalists.
In February, Israel once more claimed with out proof that Al Jazeera’s Arab correspondent Ismail Abu Omar was a Hamas operative, after launching an assault that severely injured him.
On the time, Al Jazeera rejected and condemned the accusation, recalling Israel’s lengthy historical past of assaults on the community and its journalists.
Israeli forces killed Al Jazeera correspondent Shireen Abu Akleh within the West Financial institution in 2022, and the community’s cameraman Samer Abudaqa in Gaza in December 2023.
Israel, which banned Al Jazeera within the nation earlier this yr, additionally bombed a tower housing the community’s places of work in Gaza in 2021.
Israel has killed 165 journalists in Gaza for the reason that begin of the battle, in accordance with the Gaza Authorities Media Workplace.
The Committee to Defend Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters With out Borders have condemned the killing of al-Ghoul and al-Rifi.
“Journalists are civilians and may by no means be focused. Israel should clarify why two extra Al Jazeera journalists have been killed in what seems to be a direct assault,” CPJ Government Director Jodie Ginsberg stated in an announcement Wednesday.