Gaza: Palestinian journalist killed in Israeli airstrike after receiving Israeli threats
Gaza (Quds News Network)- Palestinian journalist Hassan Hamad was killed in an Israeli airstrike on his home in northern Gaza’s Jabalia refugee camp after receiving threats from an Israeli officer to stop filming in Gaza.
Hamad, 19, had been documenting Israel’s war in Gaza for more than a year and worked as a freelance TV reporter.
Colleagues and the Government’s Media Office in Gaza confirmed Hamad’s death, saying the journalist’s home was deliberately attacked to silence him after he received threats.
“Listen, If you continue spreading lies about Israel, we’ll come for you next and turn your family into […] This is your last warning,” read the message Hamad received on WhatsApp, along with several calls from the Israeli officer.
Listen, If you continue spreading lies about Israel, we'll come for you next and turn your family into […] This is your last warning".. Journalist Hassan Hamad received this message on WhatsApp, along with several calls from an Israeli officer ordering him to stop filming in… pic.twitter.com/q6SAzMj5xc
— Maha Hussaini (@MahaGaza) October 6, 2024
With the killing of Hamad, the number of Palestinian journalists killed since the war began has risen to 175, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said at least 128 journalists and media workers are among the more than 41,000 people killed since Israel launched the deadly war on Gaza in October 2023.
“Hassan Hamad, the journalist who did not live past the age of 20, resisted for a full year in his own way. He resisted by staying away from his family so they wouldn’t be targeted. He resisted when he struggled to find an internet signal, sitting for an hour or two on the rooftop just to send the videos that reach you in seconds,” a post on Hamad’s X account posted by his colleague said.
“At 6am (03:00 GMT), he called me to send his last video. After a call that didn’t last more than a few seconds, he said, ‘There they are, there they are, it’s done,’ and hung up,” the colleague added.
Hamad’s body was found in pieces and had to be put into bags and boxes after the Israeli attack.
“This is what remains of his body,” journalist Anas Al-Sharif wrote.
هذا ما تبقى من جثمان الزميل حسن حمد pic.twitter.com/EAluyfFPBw
— أنس الشريف Anas Al-Sharif (@AnasAlSharif0) October 6, 2024
According to his colleagues, this was not the only time Hamad received threats due to his work. He had also received phone calls and direct text messages from an Israeli officer ordering him to stop filming.
“He received the first message on 13 May. After that, he received multiple threats over the phone and text messages asking him to stop working,” said Ashraf Mashharawi, manager of Media Town Production Company, where Hamad worked.
“He refused to comply, believing he had done nothing wrong and was simply performing the normal role any journalist would. We advised him to reduce his work, but he completely refused. He said: ‘I won’t be intimidated by the threats. We are in the right and they are in the wrong,’” Mashharawi added.
“Although he was still young, I was astonished at how calmly he handled the message and insisted he would continue his work regardless.”
A few hours before his death, Hamad posted about surviving an Israeli drone attack in Jabalia.
“Thank God, my colleague, journalist Moamen Abu Awda and I survived the quadcopter shots in the vicinity of al-Muqaid in the middle of Jabalia camp,” Hamad said.
