More than 175 journalists killed in Israeli strikes since military action began in Gaza

More than 175 journalists have been killed in the Palestinian Gaza Strip by Israeli strikes since the start of military action in the fall of 2023, RIA Novosti reports, citing the press office of the government of the strip.

"The death toll among journalists, men and women, has risen to 176 journalists since the start of the Israeli war in the Gaza Strip," the enclave's authorities noted.

In its turn, the Qatar-based Al Jazeera TV channel reported that its cameraman, Fadi al-Wahidi, who works in the Gaza Strip, was shot in the chest in the north of the Gaza Strip when Israeli troops opened fire on the channel's employees.

In early August, Al Jazeera reported that its correspondent and previous cameraman Ismail al-Ghoul and Rami al-Rifi were killed in an Israeli attack on them in Gaza City.

In October 2023, Israeli forces also killed another Al Jazeera cameraman, Samer Abu Dikka, and seriously wounded the channel's correspondent Wa'il al-Dahduh.

On October 7, 2023, Israel was hit by an unprecedented missile attack from the Gaza Strip. After that, fighters from the Palestinian Hamas movement infiltrated border areas, opening fire on military and civilians, and took more than 200 hostages. According to authorities, about 1,200 people were killed.

The Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords in the Gaza Strip, which included strikes on civilian targets. Israel has announced a complete blockade of the enclave: supplies of water, electricity, fuel, food and medicine have been stopped. The Gaza Strip has effectively been divided into southern and northern parts, and Israel is conducting a ground operation in Rafah, which is considered the last stronghold of Hamas.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has called on the parties to cease hostilities. According to Moscow's position, a settlement is only possible on the basis of the UN Security Council-approved formula with the creation of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with its capital in East Jerusalem.