On July 31, Al Jazeera Arabic journalist Ismail al-Ghoul and his cameraman Rami al-Rifi were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the Gaza Strip. The reporters were killed when their car was struck in the Al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City. In an attempt to evade accountability, the Israeli military falsely claimed that Ismail al-Ghoul was an operative of Hamas' military wing, Nukhba, and participated in the October 7 operation.
Israel Killed Al Jazeera’s Ismail Al-Ghoul and Rami Al-Rifi in an Airstrike
Al Jazeera Arabic journalist Ismail al-Ghoul and his cameraman Rami al-Rifi were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the Gaza Strip. The journalists were in their car on Wednesday in the Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City, to report near the Gaza home of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, who had been assassinated earlier that day in Tehran, an attack blamed on Israel.
Both journalists were wearing media vests, and their car was clearly marked with identifying signs when they were attacked. Their last contact with the news desk was 15 minutes before the strike, during which they reported a nearby strike and were advised to leave immediately. They were heading to Al-Ahli Arab Hospital when they were killed.
Ismail al-Ghoul was renowned for his professionalism and dedication, reporting the suffering and atrocities in Gaza, particularly at al-Shifa Hospital and the northern neighborhoods of the besieged enclave.
Disturbing footage circulating online shows the moment of the attack, depicting Ismail al-Ghoul and cameraman Rami al-Rifi beheaded and burned in the bombed car.
Israel Military Alleged That Ismail Al-Ghoul Is a Hamas Nukhba Fighter
One day after Israel assassinated Al Jazeera journalist Ismail al-Ghoul, the IOF claimed that they eliminated Ismail because he was a Hamas Military Wing operative and a Nukhba fighter. They also claimed that Ismail had participated in the Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.
In its statement, the Israeli army appeared to confirm that it deliberately targeted al-Ghoul, boasting that the journalist had been "eliminated."
The IOF’s statement reads, “ELIMINATED: Ismail al-Ghoul, a Hamas Military Wing operative, Nukhba terrorist and @AJEnglish journalist. As part of his role in the military wing, Al-Ghoul instructed other operatives on how to record operations and was actively involved in recording and publicizing attacks against IDF troops. His activities in the field were a vital part of Hamas' military activity. The IDF and ISA will continue to operate in order to eliminate terrorists who participated in the October 7 massacre.”
The official X account of Israel also claimed that Ismail was a Hamas Nukhba fighter and involved in the October 7 operation.
Israel Abducted and Released Al-Ghoul in March
The Israeli occupation forces had previously abducted Ismail al-Ghoul on March 18, 2024, during a raid on al-Shifa Hospital, detaining him for 12 hours before his release. This incident debunks their false claim of his affiliation with any organization, as he would not have been released after interrogation if such an affiliation existed.
In an interview with Al Jazeera post-release, Ismail recounted that Israeli forces detained him and other journalists, forcing them to lie on their stomachs while blindfolded and handcuffed for several hours. He added that the occupation forces bulldozed the journalists' tent and destroyed their cars during the raid on the al-Shifa complex. "They kept us naked for 12 hours, handcuffed and blindfolded, and interrogated all the journalists present at the site," he said.
Alaraby Correspondent’s Testimony on Israel’s Killing of Al Jazeera Journalists
Islam Badr, a correspondent for Al Araby TV, testified about the targeting of journalists in Gaza and the assassination of journalists Ismail al-Ghoul and Rami Al Rifi. He said that around 4:00 PM on Wednesday, journalists were present near Ismail Haniyeh's house in Al-Shati camp to report on his assassination.
Badr noted that the journalists were located far from any clashes. After completing his report, Badr left the scene, and shortly afterward, the location of his car was targeted.
Two cars were at the scene, and both had to flee immediately after the strike. The cars went in different directions, but minutes later, the car carrying the two Al Jazeera journalists was targeted on Aydeah Street, not far from the late Ismail Haniyeh's house.
Al Jazeera Network Debunks ‘Baseless’ Israeli Claim Against Ismail Al-Ghoul
Al Jazeera has firmly rejected the "baseless" Israeli allegations that its correspondent, Ismail al-Ghoul, killed in an Israeli attack in Gaza, was a Hamas operative.
On Thursday, Al Jazeera stated that Israel's unproven accusation is an attempt to justify the "deliberate killing" of al-Ghoul and his cameraman, Rami al-Rifi. The network asserted that the accusation against al-Ghoul "highlights Israel's long history of fabrications and false evidence used to cover up its heinous crimes," emphasizing that Israel has barred international journalists from entering Gaza.
“Ismail joined Al Jazeera in November 2023, dedicating all his time and effort to covering the war on Gaza, documenting the Israeli forces’ atrocities in Gaza City, and reporting the untold suffering of Palestinians in Gaza,” Al Jazeera Media Network said on Thursday.
“Al Jazeera Media Network calls for an independent international investigation into the brutal and heinous crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces against its journalists and staff since the beginning of the war on Gaza.”
On August 1, Al Jazeera Network workers protested, denouncing the assassination of their colleagues Ismail al-Ghoul and his cameraman Rami al-Rifi.
Furthermore, journalists in Gaza threw their press vests to the ground in protest against Israel's killing of Al Jazeera colleagues.
Israeli Occupation Has Killed 165 Journalists Since October 7
Since the outbreak of the war on Gaza, Israel has alleged, mostly without evidence, that its attacks on Palestinians are part of the campaign against Hamas.
Preliminary figures by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) indicate that at least 111 journalists and media workers have been killed since the war began on October 7. The Gaza government media office has reported that 165 Palestinian journalists have been killed during the same period.
Jodie Ginsberg, president of the CPJ, stated that the killing of Ismail al-Ghoul and Rami al-Rifi is the latest example of the dangers of reporting the war in Gaza. She noted that this conflict is the deadliest for journalists that the organization has recorded in 30 years.
Israel Continues Its Smear Campaign Against Journalists in Gaza
In April 2024, Misbar reported that the Foreign Press Association (FPA) criticized Israel for blocking international journalists' access to the Gaza Strip, suggesting that Tel Aviv aims to prevent the world from witnessing the extent of the destruction caused by its army.
At the onset of the war, Israel also launched a smear campaign against Palestinian journalists and content creators. An article in the Israeli newspaper, Jerusalem Post, claimed that tens of individuals, some allegedly connected to Hamas and boasting over 100 million social media followers, were launching a campaign against Israel since October 7. However, the article did not provide evidence of connections between these influencers and Hamas, relying instead on narratives that contradicted the official Israeli stance to support its hypothesis.
Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary reflected on the daily dangers journalists face, saying, “We do everything [to stay safe]. We wear our press jackets. We wear our helmets. We try not to go anywhere that is not safe. We try to go to places where we can maintain our security,” she said. “But we have been targeted in normal places where normal citizens are.”
She added, “We’re trying to do everything, but at the same time, we want to report, we want to tell the world what’s going on.”
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Targeting Journalists in Gaza: Israel’s War on the Palestinian Narrative
Israel Launches a Smear Campaign Against Palestinian Journalists and Content Creators
