Wafa Abu Dabaan is the 21st woman journalist killed by Israel since the conflict escalated

Location: Palestine, Gaza
Date: July 6, 2024

Women Press Freedom expresses deep sorrow over the tragic killing of five Palestinian journalists in the Gaza Strip, including Wafa Abu Dabaan, a reporter with the Islamic University Radio in Gaza, by Israeli forces. We strongly condemn the targeted violence against journalists by Israeli forces in conflict zones as a blatant violation of international law. We vehemently condemn the killing of Wafa Abu Dabaan, and urgently call for an immediate halt to hostilities. We also demand Israel's full cooperation with the International Criminal Court's investigation into potential war crimes.

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On July 6, 2024, in a tragic escalation of violence, Israel was implicated in the killing of five Palestinian journalists in the Gaza Strip within a span of just 24 hours. Among the victims was Wafa Abu Dabaan, a journalist associated with the Islamic University Radio in Gaza.

In the Nuseirat camp, Amjad Jahjouh and Rizq Abu Ashkian from the Palestine Media Agency, and Wafa Abu Dabaan from the Islamic University Radio in Gaza, were killed. Abu Dabaan was married to Jahjouh. Their children were also killed in the strike. 

In Gaza City, Palestinian journalists Saadi Madoukh and Ahmed Sukkar were killed on Friday in an Israeli raid targeting the Madoukh family home in the Daraj neighborhood.

The relentless Israeli offensive in Gaza has resulted in a devastating toll, with over 38,098 fatalities and more than 87,700 people sustaining injuries. Women Press Freedom has documented a shocking 21 women journalists killed since the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7, 2023. 

Despite mounting international calls for de-escalation and a halt to hostilities, Israel has persisted in its military campaign following an initial Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) issued a resolution urging an immediate ceasefire, yet the violence continues unabated.

In a significant legal development, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has condemned Israel for its actions in Rafah and accused it of genocide. 

These attacks on journalists represent a blatant violation of international law and the principles of press freedom. Journalists are not combatants; they are civilians performing a crucial role in documenting and reporting the realities of conflict. The targeting of media personnel is an egregious assault on the freedom of the press and the right of the public to be informed.

Women Press Freedom deeply mourns the passing of Wafa Abu Dabaan, her children, and the other journalists. We urgently appeal for a ceasefire from both Hamas and the Israeli Defence Forces to facilitate the secure distribution of aid and shield civilians from harm. Swift measures are imperative to alleviate the enduring anguish. Additionally, we insist that the Israeli government fully engage with the International Criminal Court's probe into potential war atrocities. 

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