In a shocking revelation, an investigation by Forbidden Stories and 13 media outlets, including Le Monde, has unveiled that Israeli strikes have resulted in the death of 108 journalists since the beginning of the war in Gaza. This investigation suggests that some of these strikes may have been deliberate, raising concerns over Israel's infringement on freedom of information.

One harrowing incident unfolded on January 22, when journalists Emad Ghaboun, Mahmoud Sabbah, Mahmoud Shalha, and Anas Al-Sharif were seeking an internet signal to transmit their latest reports. In the midst of their search, a strike occurred, leaving the area exposed and nearly deserted. Al-Sharif, a reporter for Al Jazeera, was wearing a blue press vest when he was wounded on his back. Amidst the chaos, he quickly disappeared into a cloud of smoke, leaving behind a chilling scene - the lifeless body of a civilian killed instantly while on the phone with his family abroad. Three other individuals were also wounded and lay on the ground, their cries for help drowned out by the ominous hum of a nearby drone.

The severity of the injuries prompted Ghaboun to be urgently evacuated to Al-Awda hospital in the scoop of a bulldozer. The destruction and rubble-filled streets of the district impeded the movement of conventional vehicles, thus requiring unconventional means for medical assistance. Al-Sharif, who had been live with Al Jazeera moments before the strike, expressed his belief that the journalists were targeted specifically because of their profession, pointing to the fact that he was wearing a press vest at the time of the attack.

This distressing incident is just one of the many that Forbidden Stories, alongside 13 investigative media organizations, have been examining over the past four months. These attacks on Palestinian journalists in Gaza have been taking place ever since the deadly Hamas raid on Israel on October 7, 2023. The Committee to Protect Journalists, based in the United States, has estimated that among the 37,000 Palestinian victims, 108 journalists have tragically lost their lives.

As the international community grapples with this alarming rise in journalist casualties, the need to protect the freedom of the press and the vital role it plays in providing unbiased information becomes more crucial than ever. Calls for an independent and thorough investigation into these attacks and accountability for those responsible are growing louder, as journalists risk their lives to report on the ground in conflict zones.

The world waits with bated breath for a resolution to this escalating crisis, hoping that the next headline reflects a commitment to upholding the freedom of the press and ensuring the safety of journalists everywhere.