A Palestinian journalist was killed in an Israeli strike in the southern Gaza Strip today, despite a ceasefire deal backed by US President Donald Trump.
Medical sources told Anadolu Agency that photojournalist Mahmoud Wadi was killed in an Israeli drone strike in central Khan Younis, an area that does not fall under the Israeli-controlled yellow zone.
There was no official statement from the Gaza Government Media Office about the killing.
According to the latest figures released by the office in late October, Israel had killed 256 journalists in Gaza since October 8, 2023. Wadi's death brings the number of victims to 257.
Wadi's father, Issam, described the Israeli attack as "an earthquake that hit the tent."
"I never expected to lose Mahmoud, who was not only my son but a friend, as he grew up in a photography studio," the grieving father told Anadolu.
"Mahmoud was taking pictures in a safe zone (not under Israeli control according to the ceasefire agreement), but the Israelis do not honor any promises; their whole life is betrayal and deceit," he said.
Criminal act
The Palestinian father called his son's killing "a criminal act committed by the Israeli occupation."
"They (the Israelis) will continue until they destroy the entire world," he said.
A colleague of the slain journalist, Muhammad Abu Ubaid, a correspondent for Al-Alam TV in Gaza, said Wadi was "known for his humanitarian work and helping people."
"He may not be known to everyone, but the poor and the vulnerable know him well because he dedicated his time to helping them," he told Anadolu.
"Wadi was a pure-hearted person. I sat down with him last night, we talked a lot, and he told me about his plans for raising his young son, who is his whole world. The world is silent and watching, and the (Israeli) occupation continues to kill us and journalists despite the agreement," he said.
International media institutions have repeatedly called on Israel to stop fatal attacks on Palestinian journalists in the Gaza Strip, but Tel Aviv has ignored these calls.
Palestinians see the Israeli military's deliberate targeting of Palestinian journalists in the Gaza Strip as an attempt to cover up its crimes in the territory.
The ceasefire agreement came into effect in Gaza on October 10 under Trump's Gaza plan, halting two years of Israeli attacks that have killed more than 70,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and wounded over 171,000 others since October 2023.
Israel has repeatedly violated the agreement by opening fire on Palestinian civilians in areas it does not control under the agreement, while the Palestinian group Hamas has announced its full commitment to the terms of the agreement and has asked the US to pressure Israel to abide by the agreement.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 356 Palestinians have been killed and more than 900 others injured in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire./TRT World
