In October of 2019, an investigation conducted by the United Nations uncovered that a reporter for Reuters was killed by an Israeli tank shell. The reporter, a Palestinian who wished to remain anonymous, was caught in the crossfire during a protest in the Gaza Strip.
The journalist, who worked for the international news outlet Reuters, had been likely covering a protest in the area on October 18th when the incident occurred. The UN report states that the journalist was killed by an Israeli tank shell that hit him from an estimated range of 500 to 700 meters away. Other sources also identified a ground-to-ground missile as the likely cause of death.
The UN report included testimony from surviving witnesses, which provided both eyewitness accounts of the results of the shell strike and evidence of the destruction caused by the weapon. Reports suggest that the tank shell struck the ground next to the journalist, spraying him with shrapnel and causing fatal injuries.
The UN also noted that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) did not provide the international organization with any witnesses or evidence that the tank shell was justified. The incident highlights the often-dangerous climate in the Gaza Strip, where military action can have fatal consequences for civilians and journalists reporting on the ground.
The death of this journalist is a tragedy and a reminder of how pervasive violence in the Middle East remains. We owe it to this journalist, and to all the other brave reporters trying to bring important stories to the world, to investigate this incident further and make sure that justice is served.
