Five journalists from the Al-Quds Today channel were killed early Thursday in an Israeli airstrike on their clearly marked broadcasting van near al-Awda Hospital in the Nuseirat refugee camp.

The vehicle, visibly labeled with "PRESS" in red letters, was struck as the journalists were reporting on the ongoing humanitarian crisis at the hospital.

The victims, identified as Fadi Hassouna, Ibrahim al-Sheikh Ali, Mohammed al-Ladah, Faisal Abu al-Qumsan, and Ayman al-Jadi, were dedicated to bringing the world the truth about the situation in Gaza. Heartbreakingly, Ayman al-Jadi was waiting to become a father for the first time as his wife was in labor inside the hospital.

Footage from the scene depicted a horrifying aftermath with the van engulfed in flames, as local civil defense teams struggled to manage the blaze and retrieve the bodies.

The Israeli military admitted to the attack, claiming the vehicle was carrying members of Islamic Jihad, despite the clear press markings. They stated, "Prior to the attack, many steps were taken to reduce the chance of harming civilians," a claim that starkly contrasts with the reality on the ground where journalists, clearly identified, were killed.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has strongly condemned these deaths, demanding accountability for this blatant attack on press freedom.

This incident adds to the grim tally of nearly 45,400 deaths in Gaza since October 7, 2023, following Israel's retaliatory actions against Hamas's incursion. The majority of those killed are reported to be women and children, a fact that underscores the disproportionate impact of this conflict on the civilian population.

Moreover, last month, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Israel also faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice.

The international community must not look away as Gaza continues to bear the brunt of an unrelenting aggression, where even the press, vital for transparency and democracy, are not spared. (ILKHA)