DOHA — Al Jazeera Media Network on Saturday condemned the killing of its cameraman Ahmed Wishah in a strike in central Gaza, accusing Israel of targeting journalists, while the Israeli military said it had struck a Hamas operative and rejected claims that Wishah was solely a media worker.
According to Al Jazeera and local reports, Wishah, a cameraman for Al Jazeera Mubasher, was killed when a strike hit a house in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza. The broadcaster said two other people were also killed and several were wounded in the attack.
In a statement, Al Jazeera condemned what it described as the killing of one of its journalists and said the incident reflected “a continued systematic policy of targeting journalists and silencing the voice of truth.” The network called for accountability and renewed appeals for the protection of media workers operating in conflict zones.
“Ahmed Wishah, a cameraman for Al Jazeera, has been killed in an Israeli airstrike,” the broadcaster said, identifying him as a member of its Gaza-based news team.
The Israeli military said it carried out what it described as a precise strike and alleged that Wishah was affiliated with Hamas. Israeli officials said he had served as a sniper operative within the group, but did not immediately provide public evidence supporting the claim.
Al Jazeera rejected the accusation, calling it baseless and saying Israel was attempting to justify the killing of its journalists. The broadcaster said the allegations formed part of a pattern of accusations made against media personnel working in Gaza.
Wishah’s death came about two months after the death of his brother, Mohammed Wishah, who also worked for Al Jazeera and was killed in a separate Israeli strike, according to the network. The brothers had worked together covering developments in Gaza.
Journalist advocacy groups and Palestinian media organizations have repeatedly expressed concern over the safety of reporters in Gaza during the conflict. Casualty figures involving journalists vary by source, and claims regarding responsibility for individual deaths are often disputed.
As of Monday, there was no indication of an independent investigation into the strike. Al Jazeera said it would pursue legal measures related to the killing, while the Israeli military maintained its position that the strike targeted a Hamas operative.
