Gaza journalist Heba al-Abadla and family killed in Israeli bombing of Khan Younis

[Donkees]

Heba al-Abadla was killed on Tuesday in an Israeli airstrike on her home in Khan Younis, along with her daughter, mother, and maternal uncles, the Palestinian Information Centre reported.

The deaths of al-Abadla and her daughter Judy were also reported by the Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate.

The strike on the home was one of several by Israel in the area on Tuesday, the Palestinian outlet said. Around 55 people were killed in the attacks in total, it added.

Abadla is one of scores of journalists killed in Gaza since Israel began its war on the Palestinian territory on 7 October.

Reports of Abadla's death came as the International Criminal Court (ICC) confirmed it would be conducting a probe into potential crimes against journalists in Gaza.

https://www.newarab.com/news/israeli-bombing-khan-younis-kills-gaza-journalist-family

[Lonestarblue]

1. Now why would Israel be targeting journalists' homes? They must be Hamas fighters!

Obviously sarcasm, but Israel just continues using the excuse of rooting out Hamas to kill more Palestinians. The only senior leader they’ve killed was in Lebanon!

[former9thward]

33. Nice try.

A majority of Hamas operational leaders have been killed in Gaza. The "senior leaders" as you call them are not in Gaza. They are in Qatar, Lebanon and other countries. Their time is coming.

[atreides1]

2. Well

As has been said before about every square inch of Gaza...the house was probably a Hamas command and control center!

And I'm sure the IDF gave their 2 hour pre-bombing notification

[Nixie]

3. "since Israel began its war on the Palestinian territory on

7 Oct". Shameful propaganda.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

4. This also jumped out at me,

Reports of Abadla's death came as the International Criminal Court (ICC) confirmed it would be conducting a probe into potential crimes against journalists in Gaza.

Are the "judges" going to look at the heinous atrocities committed by Hamas on 10/7 against Israeli and foreign citizens also?

I rather doubt it.

[Nixie]

7. Exactly. All those "journalists" laughing at the atrocities

against Israel should also be probed.

[Donkees]

5. Israel also declared war on Oct 7

Israeli politicians were quick to call for the “elimination” of a number of Palestinian journalists working for foreign news organisations who were falsely accused by a pro-Israel pressure group in the US of being “embedded with Hamas” on 7 October. Benny Gantz, a member of the Israeli war cabinet, said they should be hunted down as terrorists, reflecting a widely held suspicion among Israeli officials that Palestinian journalists are an appendage of Hamas.

[Nixie]

6. "also declared war"

More shameful propaganda.

[AloeVera]

8. This war has been the deadliest recorded for journalists

https://cpj.org/2024/01/journalist-casualties-in-the-israel-gaza-conflict/

As of January 10:

79 journalists and media workers were confirmed dead: 72 Palestinian, 4 Israeli, and 3 Lebanese.
16 journalists were reported injured.
3 journalists were reported missing.
21 journalists were reported arrested.
Multiple assaults, threats, cyberattacks, censorship, and killings of family members.

CPJ is also investigating numerous unconfirmed reports of other journalists being killed, missing, detained, hurt, or threatened, and of damage to media offices and journalists’ homes.

“CPJ emphasizes that journalists are civilians doing important work during times of crisis and must not be targeted by warring parties,” said Sherif Mansour, CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa program coordinator. “Journalists across the region are making great sacrifices to cover this heart-breaking conflict. Those in Gaza, in particular, have paid, and continue to pay, an unprecedented toll and face exponential threats. Many have lost colleagues, families, and media facilities, and have fled seeking safety when there is no safe haven or exit.”

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/gaza-war-most-dangerous-ever-journalists-says-rights-group-2023-12-21/

JERUSALEM, Dec 21 (Reuters) - The first 10 weeks of the Israel-Gaza war have been the deadliest recorded for journalists, with the most journalists killed in a single year in one location, the U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said on Thursday.
.....
"The Israel-Gaza war is the most dangerous situation for journalists we have ever seen, and these figures show that clearly," said Sherif Mansour, CPJ's Middle East and North Africa program coordinator. "The Israeli army has killed more journalists in 10 weeks than any other army or entity has in any single year. And with every journalist killed, the war becomes harder to document and to understand."

Bolding is mine.

[AloeVera]

9. I see by some of the comments that the focus again is on the messenger, not the message.

Along with the usual whataboutism.

Would it be possible to have a discussion on the actual topic at hand, the unprecedented number of deaths of journalists in this war and its causes and implications?

Anyone want to start that discussion?

[MarineCombatEngineer]

10. Wait, I thought it was said that Israel isn't allowing journalists into Gaza,

so if that's the case, how are so many journalists being injured and killed?

And another thing to consider, the reason so many are being killed or injured might be because of the size of Gaza, which concentrates journalists into a small area.

Another thing to consider is how many of these journalists are actually legitimate journalists.

These are things to ponder.

[Big Blue Marble]

11. What is your definition of a "legitimate journalist"

Many Arab new sources, such as Al Jazeera and others have journalist in Gaza that have been there for years. And some are stringers as well. What should be pondered is the hint of racism in your comments

[MarineCombatEngineer]

12. A hint of racism?

That's laughable at best.
Have a great day.

[The Magistrate]

13. I Expect By 'Legitimate Journalists' The Gentleman Meant 'People Not Part Of The Hamas Propaganda Shop'

[AloeVera]

14. Journalists are being killed at a rate of 14 times higher than civilians.

Journalists are being killed at the rate of 14 out of 200, compared to civilian deaths at 1 out of 200. If it were simply a matter of the size of Gaza as you claim, there would not be such an inexplicable gap.

There are approximately 1,000 journalists working in Gaza, according to the International Federation of Journalists. Approximately one in every 200 people has been killed in Gaza, but among journalists, approximately fourteen out of every 200 people has been killed.

https://time.com/6553226/al-jazeera-journalist-son-killed-airstrike-al-dahdouh/

At the same time as you incorrectly attribute the high death rate among journalists to the size of Gaza, you imply that only foreign/international journalists are "real" journalists worthy of the name. The 1,000 journalists, inhabitants of Gaza, are accredited with the IFJ so I would say they are as real as any other. Being Palestinian should not be equated with being fake or less than imo. It is these brave people suffering great personal loss that are being targeted.

The fact that international journalists have to consent to IDF military escort and censorship and that their petition for access to areas where soldiers are not present has been denied by Israel speaks volumes. Freedom of the press means freedom to go where the story leads and where the people are. Why are international journalists not allowed to speak with the Palestinian people? Something to ponder.

I leave you with something more to ponder about too, from the deputy general secretary of the International Federation of Journalists. The whole article may be of interest to you as an ex-Marine. He compares the highest death rates in Vietnam, that of Marines, to that of Palestinian journalists in Gaza to highlight the dangers facing the latter now. (it's 5% for Marines vs 7.5% for Gazan journalists).Being a Palestinian journalist in Gaza is more dangerous than being a Marine in Vietnam.

The fate of Gaza’s journalists is a humanitarian catastrophe – but it is more than that. With the closure of the borders to international reporters, clampdown on dissenting opinions in Israel, and the unprecedented scale of killing we are seeing one of the most bloody and brutal suppression's of free speech in the modern era.

Against this horrific backdrop, Palestinian journalists have worked through fatigue, hunger, bereavement and mortal danger to document what has befallen the enclave. Without our collective and determined support, these vital witnesses will be lost.

https://www.ifj.org/media-centre/news/detail/article/ifjblog-gazas-journalists-are-far-more-likely-to-die-than-combat-soldiers#:~:text=At%20the%20start%20of%20the,employees%20of%20international%20news%20platforms.

[malaise]

15. Never fails

Sickening

[Arazi]

16. Here's a Reuters "journalist" telling Gazans to get in there and commit more atrocities

Are the other “journalists” actually “journalists” like this guy? Cheering on the mass butchery of Israelis? This is the “message” straight from a Reuters “journalist” in Gaza 😒

Link to tweet

?s=20

[uponit7771]

17. More collective punishment

[Arazi]

18. If you're actually a Hamas militant pretending to be a journalist

You’re going to be a target in this war.

Pretending to be part of the press when you’re actually in Hamas won’t protect you. And if you decide to intentionally hang out with civilians and they’re targeted too, that’s entirely on that militant for putting innocents in the line of fire.

Nothing to do with “collective punishment”.

Just war

[uponit7771]

36. I expect terrorist acts from terrorist and 100% collective punishment, no gaslight accepted

[AloeVera]

19. So journalists are being killed with cause? N/T

[Arazi]

20. "Journalist"

I dunno. Are they journalists or “journalists”? 🤨

If I had to bet, I’d bet big money he’ll be a journalist if he’s ever killed in fighting (but he’s not obviously). That’s my point. Just like UNRWA employees aren’t neutral helpers, hospital director/doctors are actually Hamas brigadier generals etc.

Link to tweet

?s=46

Link to tweet

?s=46

Link to tweet

?s=46

[Celerity]

40. Marina Medvin is a POS racist, hardcore RWer, I trust her as a source as far as I could toss her

Examples of her bollocks:

Yes, Leftist Media & Politicians Incited Race Riots

https://townhall.com/columnists/marinamedvin/2020/06/03/yes-leftist-media--politicians-incited-race-riots-n2570020

'Cancel Debt' Are the Words of Knowing Thieves and Brainless Lemmings Led By Knowing Thieves

https://townhall.com/columnists/marinamedvin/2020/11/17/cancel-debt-are-the-words-of-knowing-thieves-and-brainless-lemmings-led-by-knowing-thieves-n2580228

I Want My America Back

https://townhall.com/columnists/marinamedvin/2020/07/06/i-want-my-america-back-n2571894

Israeli Professor Debunks Government Claims That Lockdowns Slow Coronavirus Infection, Proves Worldwide Decline In Spread

https://townhall.com/columnists/marinamedvin/2020/04/21/israeli-professor-debunks-government-claims-that-lockdowns-slow-coronavirus-infection-proves-worldwide-decline-in-spread-n2567291

Here she is on an alt-right website whingeing about being temp-banned on pre Musk Twitter and attacking Biden:

https://thepostmillennial.com/town-hall-senior-columnist-banned-from-twitter-after-criticizing-biden

snip

Medvin replied to OANN anchor Jack Posobiec's tweet of the story, saying "WTF is his problem? What kind of person sues nuns?! I can't stand this creep. Between the sniffing and the suing and deceit - there is nothing worthwhile. He's a completely worthless human being. Trash, decay, scum. He brings with him nothing but sorrow and theft. Ok rant done."

snip

Medvin told The Post Millennial that the article "exposed Biden as a two-faced liar," and in fact her comment "didn’t threaten Biden, it didn't harass him, and certainly I was not abusive."

snip

[TheKentuckian]

21. The Hamas propaganda corps are legitimate targets

Legitimate journalists would have a proper escort.

[AloeVera]

29. Legitimate according to what/who?

I have not seen any exemption under international law to protection of journalists/civilians unless they've taken up arms/are in direct combat. Even then, they are not to be killed in their homes along with their families.

If they have not taken up arms, simply working for a state-run propaganda network/media outlet is not an exemption.

Was this young woman engaged in combat or does Israel have proof she took up arms - all while sleeping in her bed surrounded by her young daughter and family?

Seems to me Israel is making up its own rules and considers itself above the law of nations.

As for your statement on military escorts of "legitimate journalists" - I suppose that's one way to ensure no Palestinian can ever be considered a "legitimate" journalist.

[TheKentuckian]

35. Every member and operative for Hamas is to be eliminated

So it has been written. So let it be done.

[WarGamer]

22. The IDF and Natanyahu are particularly invested in controlling what news comes out of GAZA...

If they control the narrative, they control armies of propagandists in the West.

[AloeVera]

31. Yes, they have a "reputation" to protect in the U.S. in particular, the West in general.

Everywhere else their reputation is shot.

This is interesting, from The Nation. The whole article is worth a read.

While the Committee to Protect Journalists says that for most of the war, there were no international journalists aside from those very recently embedded with the IDF in Gaza, the Biden administration hasn’t rushed to restore on-the-ground reporting capabilities. In fact, ahead of the recent temporary cease-fire, Politico reported that “there was some concern in the administration about an unintended consequence of the pause: that it would allow journalists broader access to Gaza and the opportunity to further illuminate the devastation there and turn public opinion on Israel.”

WTH?

[AloeVera]

32. Link.

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/gaza-journalists-heroes/

[former9thward]

34. No that is Hamas.

Who gives their version, and it repeated by the armies of their propagandists over the world.

[Arazi]

23. Two more "journalists" killed by the IDF

😒

Link to tweet

?s=46

[WarGamer]

24. Of course the IDF will claim they're all terrorists.

[Arazi]

25. Because they're in Hamas, a terrorist organization

So yeah, they’re terrorists, just like the Hamas brigadier general who was also a hospital director/doctor, or the UNRWA “teachers” who are actually in Hamas etc etc

In war, if you’re an enemy combatant, on any level, that target is very real and deploying a pseudo-cover as a journalist, doctor, teacher etc won’t protect you

[WarGamer]

28. So the dead journalist in this OP... and her family were HAMAS warriors?

Seriously?

[Arazi]

37. I never said that

I came into the conversation following AloeVera’s comments in post #9

Would it be possible to have a discussion on the actual topic at hand, the unprecedented number of deaths of journalists in this war and its causes and implications?

I’m simply pointing out that there’s evidence that Palestinian “journalists” aren’t actually journalists- they’re Hamas members posing as journalists. I posted several examples. I haven’t commented on the OP at all

[WarGamer]

38. Well the whole point of the OP.... is the OP.

I'm sure there are some fake journalists stacked up in the IDF journalist body count.

[Arazi]

39. Oh boy, a thread police post

😂

I haven’t looked at your profile. Are you new? Going OT on sub-threads is a thing here (like kudzu … iykyk)

[Ace Rothstein]

27. A lot of "journalists" in Gaza moonlighting as terrorists.

Or is it the other way around?

[AloeVera]

30. Yeah I can see how that would result in a death sentence.

Whatever "that" is supposed to be. My Arabic is rusty.

[GuppyGal]

26. Articles and headlines often use loaded emotional wording that favors the left, especially regarding support for

Palestine.......... Media Matters

[David__77]

41. I wonder if a US-sourced weapon did the killing.