Another journalist killed by Israeli army in Gaza, as death toll since Oct. 2023 reaches 221

The number of journalists killed by Israel in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, has surged to 221 on Wednesday.

The latest victim, journalist Mutaz Rajab, who worked as a cameraman and video editor for the local Al-Quds Today TV, brings the total number of media professionals killed in Gaza to 221, the Gaza Media Office said in a statement.

The office strongly condemned “the systematic targeting, killing, and assassination of Palestinian journalists by the Israeli occupation.”

It also urged the international community, as well as relevant media and press organizations around the world, to condemn Israeli crimes, hold it accountable, and pursue its ongoing violations in international courts.

Since the start of the onslaught, Palestinian journalists have faced extreme risks to their lives, with dozens killed during field coverage, despite wearing press vests and operating from well-known locations.

The Israeli army, rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, has pursued a devastating offensive against Gaza since October 2023, killing over 54,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.​​​​​​​

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war crimes against civilians in the enclave.