Journalist killed in Israeli dawn attack on tents in central Gaza

Amman, March 9, 2026 — The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the killing of Palestinian journalist Amal Shamaly, a correspondent for Qatar Radio, in an Israeli strike early Monday on tents housing displaced people in central Gaza.

According to reports, the strike west of the village of Az-Zawayda, killed Shamaly, two other people and injured at least 10 others. It comes amid intensified Israeli strikes across Gaza following a new round of hostilities between the U.S., Israel and Iran, and hours after deadly strikes in Gaza City.

“The killing of Amal Shamaly is a devastating reminder that, even during a ceasefire, Palestinian journalists are still paying the highest price for reporting from Gaza,” said CPJ Regional Director Sara Qudah. “Israel must stop targeting the press in Gaza and elsewhere in the region and ensure that journalists can carry their work safely. Those responsible for killing journalists must be held to account.”

The killing of Shamaly brings the total number of journalists killed by Israeli forces in the region since October 7, 2023, to at least 253 journalists, including at least 213 in Gaza, according to CPJ data.

On January 21, 2026, Israel killed three journalists, Abed Shaat, Mohammad Qeshta, and Anas Ghnaim, in a targeted drone strike on a vehicle carrying them to an assignment to film tents of displaced Palestinians. 

CPJ emailed the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) for comment on the killing of Shamaly, but did not receive a response at the time of publishing.