National Press Club: Journalists Must Not Be Targets After Five Killed in Gaza
WASHINGTON, August 25 – The National Press Club is gravely concerned by reports that five journalists were killed today in Gaza when Israeli airstrikes struck Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. According to health officials and press organizations, those killed included:
- Mariam Abu Dagga, 33, a freelance journalist who worked with The Associated Press and The Independent (Arabic). She is survived by her 12-year-old son.
- Mohammad Salam, a journalist for Al Jazeera.
- Hussam al-Masri, a contract photographer for Reuters.
- Moaz Abu Taha, a journalist.
- Ahmed Abu Aziz, a freelance journalist.
Earlier this month, Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif and several of his colleagues were killed when a tent used by journalists outside al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City was struck in a targeted Israeli attack. Their deaths, together with today’s killings, underscore that this has become one of the deadliest conflicts for journalists in modern history, with more than 200 journalists killed since the war began.
“The killing of journalists in Gaza is not just a tragedy for their families and colleagues; it is an attack on the public’s right to know,” said National Press Club President Mike Balsamo. “Journalists are witnesses on the front lines of conflict — often the only way the public understands what is happening in this war. They must never be treated as targets. International law requires their protection, and those who violate that obligation must be held accountable.”
The National Press Club calls for an independent investigation into these deaths and reiterates its unwavering commitment to defending the safety, independence, and unhindered access of journalists worldwide.
About the National Press Club
Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world’s leading professional organization for journalists. The Club, through its Press Freedom Center, is a leading voice for press freedom in the U.S. and worldwide.
Contact: Bill McCarren, 202-662-7534, [email protected] for the National Press Club Center for Press Freedom