Global Outrage as Gaza Journalists Targeted; Reuters Photographer Resigns in Protest
Amid escalating violence in Gaza, the deaths of dozens of journalists, including Reuters’ Hossam Al-Masri, have drawn international condemnation, while Canadian photojournalist Valerie Zink resigns in protest over media complicity.
International concern has surged following the targeted killings of journalists in Gaza, highlighting the extreme dangers faced by press members in the besieged territory. On Monday, a double-tap strike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis killed five Palestinian media workers, part of a total of 20 casualties from the attack. The tactic, which targets first responders and journalists arriving after an initial strike, has been widely condemned as a potential war crime.
Canadian photojournalist Valerie Zink, who had worked for Reuters for eight years, resigned citing the agency’s role in amplifying Israeli claims that led to the deaths of journalists, including Pulitzer-winning reporter Anas al-Sharif. Zink criticized Reuters for failing to protect Al-Sharif, who had been placed on a military hit list after exposing famine conditions in Gaza. She described the Western media’s coverage as “enabling Israel’s killing of journalists” and pledged to dedicate her future work to honoring the courage of journalists in Gaza.
International press freedom organizations, including Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists, have condemned the killings and called for immediate international action. RSF reported that over 200 journalists have been killed in the conflict over the past 22 months, with roughly 40 deliberately targeted. Comparatively, fewer journalists have died in longer conflicts, such as Ukraine’s ongoing war. RSF director Thibault Bruttin urged for the Gaza Strip to be opened to international media and called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting to halt the violence.
Israel has expressed regret over the hospital strike, describing it as a “tragic mishap,” and announced an investigation. Meanwhile, several countries, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and multiple media organizations have demanded accountability, reaffirming that journalists must be able to work without intimidation or harm in accordance with international humanitarian law.
The recent events underscore an unprecedented threat to press freedom in Gaza, prompting global calls for protection, justice, and urgent media reform.
