Israeli forces targeted and killed Al Jazeera journalist Muhammad Washah in an attack yesterday, on suspicion of Hamas membership.
The Israeli military described Washah as a “key figure” in Hamas and said he had been planning attacks against Israeli forces.
In a statement, the army said he was involved in the production of drones, rockets, and other military equipment, and in transferring weapons within the Gaza Strip. It added that he operated “under the guise of an Al Jazeera journalist” and used this identity to advance what it called “terrorist” operations against Israeli forces and the state of Israel.
Al Jazeera strongly rejected the allegations, accusing Israel of systematically targeting its staff in the Gaza Strip. In a statement, the network said: “The killing was not a random act but a deliberate and targeted crime intended to intimidate journalists.”
Washah was hit while traveling in a vehicle on Al-Rashid Street along the Gaza City coast.
The Gaza Media Office said that 262 journalists have been killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza since the war began in October 2023. It added that around 2,000 ceasefire violations have been carried out by Israel during this period.
