In a tragic incident, a Palestinian journalist and 42 of his family members were killed in an Israeli air strike on Gaza City, according to the Wafa news agency. Mohammad Abu Hasira, a reporter for the agency, became a victim of the ongoing conflict in the region. This unfortunate event has marked the deadliest month for journalists since records began, as reported by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

The CPJ stated that at least 37 journalists have lost their lives since the beginning of the war, though it remains unclear if all of them were present in Gaza at the time. Despite the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths, the CPJ has included them in their count. Tragically, this incident adds to the long list of journalist fatalities documented by the organization since 1992.

International news organizations Reuters and AFP were previously advised by Israel that the safety of their journalists operating in the Gaza Strip could not be guaranteed. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) explained that they were targeting Hamas throughout Gaza, accusing the group of placing military operations in close proximity to journalists and civilians. The IDF also highlighted the risk of damage to nearby structures due to the nature of air strikes.

Further highlighting the dangers faced by journalists, AFP has called on Israel to investigate an air strike that caused severe damage to its office on the top floors of an 11-storey building. Fabrice Fries, AFP boss, expressed deep concern over the strike, emphasizing the troubling message it sends to journalists working in challenging conditions in Gaza.

Last week, another journalist, Mohammad Abu Hatab from the Palestine TV news channel, was killed alongside 11 members of his family in an Israeli air strike in the southern Gaza Strip. The devastating news prompted his colleague, Salman Al-Bashir, to break down in tears on air, removing his protective gear and highlighting the harrowing reality that even such equipment cannot guarantee the safety of journalists.

In addition to the journalists killed, two Israeli photographers along with their family members were killed when Hamas attacked kibbutzes Kfar Aza and Nahal Oz. Two Israeli reporters lost their lives during the Hamas attack on the Supernova music festival on the same day.

Issam Abdallah, a prominent Reuters journalist, was tragically killed while covering Israeli rockets fired over the Israel-Lebanon border. He was among a group of journalists near the border town of Alma al-Shaab in southern Lebanon when he was struck by a rocket. Six other journalists were injured in the same attack.

The Israel Defense Forces expressed deep regret for the incident and announced an active investigation into the matter. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in the deaths of over 10,300 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

The loss of Mohammad Abu Hasira, along with his family members, is a tragic reminder of the risks journalists face when covering conflicts. As the international community mourns their deaths, calls for increased safety measures and investigations into the incidents grow stronger, aiming to ensure the protection of journalists in conflict zones.