Thu Dec 26 18:19:28 UTC 2024: ## Gaza Death Toll Rises Amidst Controversial Israeli Strike on Journalists
**GAZA CITY, Palestine –** The death toll in Gaza continues to climb, with at least 38 more Palestinians killed in the past 24 hours, bringing the total since October 2023 to a staggering 45,399, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. Over 107,000 have been injured. The latest casualties include five journalists from the al-Quds Today TV channel, killed in an Israeli airstrike on a broadcast van near al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat refugee camp.
The Israeli military claimed the attack targeted members of the Islamic Jihad group within the vehicle, offering no evidence to support this assertion. This claim has been met with widespread condemnation from press freedom organizations, who highlight the increasingly dangerous conditions for journalists operating in Gaza, which they now deem the world’s most perilous location for reporting. Israel’s restriction on foreign journalist access, allowing entry only on military-controlled embeds, further fuels these concerns.
Among the slain journalists was Ayman al-Jadi, who was reportedly waiting for his wife to give birth to their first child. The incident has sparked outrage internationally, with calls for investigations into the targeting of media personnel. The Gaza Ministry of Health continues to document the escalating humanitarian crisis.
First Piper 