The number of Palestinian journalists reported killed in Gaza since the start of Israel’s war has risen to 263, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office. The office announced the latest figure on Wednesday, September 30, after the death of Mohammed Abdul Aziz al-Najjar.
Latest death reported
Al-Najjar was an imam and presenter of religious programmes for Quran Radio. Palestinian officials said he was killed in an Israeli drone strike while preparing a report on Quran memorisation in southern Gaza. His death was also reported by the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs.
Calls for investigation and accountability
The Government Media Office called on international and journalists’ organisations to condemn the killings and pursue accountability. The figure of 263 is the office’s reported count; wartime casualty data can be difficult to independently verify, and the number should be attributed to the body that issued it.
The deaths have renewed attention to the risks faced by reporters and media workers in Gaza, where continuing attacks and the destruction of communications and infrastructure make independent reporting difficult. The latest announcement adds to the wider debate about the protection of journalists in conflict zones and the need for transparent investigations into their deaths.
