Translation: "*We were in the Saftawi area, north of Gaza City, at the western entrance to Jabalia camp. We were about to prepare a report about the latest developments there since the IOF escalated its assaults in Bir al-Naja and the neighboring regions. *

Al-Saftawi is not an area that was covered by the Israeli evacuation orders. There were a lot of civilians around us being in a residential area that also harbors many shelters. We were doing our press coverage of events in Al-Saftawi when suddenly Israeli drones shot a hail of bullets directly at us, the Al Araby, and other journalist teams. Obviously, all of us were wearing our press vests clearing showing we are journalists, and there were a lot of civilians around us. To be more precise, when we were shot I was a next to woman standing at the door of her house. We were not in a combat area and there were no clashes there. Yet the IOF ambushed us.

I want to highlight that there was a separate incident at around the same time: two other journalists were targeted in Jabalia al-Balad, leading to the martyrdom of one of them, Mohammed Al-Tanani, who worked for the local Al-Aqsa Channel, and the injury of the correspondent, Tamer Lubbad. And in the incident involving us, our colleague was injured (signal cut off; he was commenting about Fadi Alwhidi).

These targeted attacks are not random or to force us to leave the area. Firstly, they happened without warning. Secondly, we were not in a combat area. Thirdly, they are carried out directly and lethally, as evidenced by the martyrdom of one journalist and the injury of two others, and endangering all the people on the scene. We were targeted directly, twice: we were hit once and hurried to move away, but the drone chased us and targeted us. That is where our colleague Fadi Alwhidi fell. When we noticed that he fell, we went to rescue him, and we found him unconscious. He is now being treated in the Baptist hospital and will be undergoing difficult surgeries due to the severity of his wounds. Similarly, our colleague Tamer Lebbad's injury is also serious and will require surgery due to the shrapnel in his abdomen. So, besides the martyrdom of Mohammed Al-Tanani, the injuries sustained by journalists are dangerous.

I want to emphasize again that this is not the first targeted attack on journalists. Whenever we try to approach the areas around the IOF's incursion axes in north Gaza, the army targets us. It is clear though what's happening that Israel made a decision to keep what it is committing in northern Gaza under wraps. It is trying to keep all journalists away so they can't document even from a relatively safe area—there's no safe place in Gaza—I mean from an area where there are no clashes, a place that is not under an evacuation order, a place where it is to distinguish if someone is a civilian or journalist. The IOF did not respect any of these considerations."

On October 9, in the afternoon, during coverage of the besieged northern Gaza by Israeli ground forces, three attacks targeted different journalist teams at three locations: the Abu Sharkh roundabout (a rare escape route transformed into a "kill zone" by the IDF for the past three days) and a location near Osama Bin Zaid School in the Saftawi area.

The team reporting in Saftawi was attacked twice; their colleague, Fadi Al-Wahidi, was severely injured and is undergoing surgeries. Tamer Lubbad also sustained serious injuries.

Intentional Targeting: Reports indicate these attacks are not random but aim to silence journalists and prevent documentation. Journalists have been consistently targeted, especially near the axes of Israeli incursions in northern Gaza. The pattern suggests that Israel is deliberately targeting journalists to prevent media coverage of its activities in northern Gaza, even in areas without active fighting or evacuation orders.

1) Mohammed Al-Tanani murdered & Tamer Lubbad injured at the Abu Sharkh roundabout

Palestinian photojournalist Mohammed Al-Tanani was killed by Israeli forces while reporting on the Israeli ground invasion of the Jabalia camp. Journalist Tamer Lubbad, also a correspondent for Al-Aqsa, was injured. On the same day, the IDF completely closed off all access to and from Jabalia and openly fired at anyone attempting to leave. Journalists documenting the scenes started referring to the Abu Sharkh roundabout as the "Death Intersection/Roundabout."

Al-Tanani’s body was retrieved despite Israeli occupation forces targeting the rescue teams. Palestine Red Crescent crews transported his body and another injured journalist after the occupation’s aircraft targeted a group of journalists at the Abu Sharkh roundabout in northern Gaza. They were taken to Al-Ahli Al-Ma’madani Hospital.

According to Quds Network, Al-Tanani was fatally shot by an Israeli sniper, while two other journalists, Tamer Lubbad and Al Jazeera cameraman Fadi Al-Wheidi, were injured by Israeli fire.

Journalist Emad Ghaboun (@EmadGhaboun) tribute : "The body of the martyr, fellow journalist Muhammad al-Tanani, after fulfilling his media duty, was assassinated today by the occupying forces. Your work as a journalist in Gaza means you could be killed by the occupation at any time."

2) Fadi Al-Wahidi injured in the Saftawi area

Al Jazeera cameraman Fadi Al-Wahidi was reportedly shot in the neck and in the chest by Israeli drone strike or sniper near Osama Bin Zaid School in the Saftawi area and his injury was serious. According to Anas Al-Sharif, Al Jazeera correspondant, he now suffers from paraplegia following his injury :"Today, I stand next to Fadi while he is in a coma, after he had been standing in front of me and surrounding me from all sides, so that the picture was conveyed with the utmost professionalism. Today, unfortunately, doctors informed us that Fadi has become permanently paralyzed."

Photos of colleague Islam Bader rushing to evacuate Fadi and his testimony "Those were difficult moments. We were in an unspecified area, an evacuation zone, far from the clashes, dressed in press attire. But the bullets from the Israeli army came directly at us, twice, to ensure we were injured... and unfortunately, they succeeded. The army didn’t stop firing even after Fadi fell. I went back to get him, and unfortunately, he was unconscious."

The moment Al-Aqsa TV cameraman Mohammed Al-Tanani was targeted. Video by Yahya Alfarra on Instagram.

Anas al-Sharif and Hossam Shabat testify that the group of journalists worked in a safe place, far from any dangerous places and clashes when they were targeted. Hossam Shabat "I took this photo of Fadi moments before he was shot and he was directly targeted. He told me not to take risks and not to advance into the dangerous zone, but Fadi was targeted in the zone which was a thousand meters from danger. It is clear from this that the attacks were aimed at journalists."

Testimony of Anas Al-Sharif (Al Jazeera Corespondant) "The doctor told me a short while ago that my brother and beloved Fadi Al-Wahidi's health condition is very serious and he needs urgent surgery. The X-ray image that was just taken showed a rupture in the cervical vertebrae of the spine… …and the operation may also result in hemiplegia that may affect our colleague Fadi, God forbid. Praying for Fadi's safety and recovery There is no power nor strength save with Allah"

On october 11, in the afternoon, Journalist Fadi Al-Wahidi wakes up from his coma.

Journalist Hossam Shabat tribute :

Fadi, friend and fellow journalist, is dear, loyal and loving towards his friends, concerned for their safety. He was reluctant to take risks and advised me not to put our lives in danger. Ten minutes before being targeted, he advised me to stay away from the occupying army area. He had a distinctive style of covering events and his emotion was evident in every harsh scene, with tears streaming from his eyes from the tragedies he witnessed. During the year of the genocide, Fadi tirelessly continued his work with the Al Jazeera team. Today, we miss him in media coverage and remember him in light of the continuing massacres.

3) Al-Araby Team targeted in the Saftawi area

Occupation forces opened fire on Al-Arab TV crew and journalists while they were covering the Israeli incursion into the northern Gaza Strip.

According to Islam Bader, who was among the Al-Arabi journalist team, They stay in the Saftawi area, north of Gaza City, at the western entrance to Jabalia camp, where journalists were reporting on recent developments amid escalating assaults by the Israeli Forces (IDF).

It was a civilian Area: Al-Saftawi was not under Israeli evacuation orders and was populated by civilians and shelters. Journalists, wearing press vests, were working in a residential area with no combat activities or clashes.

Targeted Attack: Israeli drones fired directly at the journalists (including teams from Al Araby and others) without warning, despite their clear identification as press and the presence of civilians.

Sources : 1

4) Journalist Omar Al-Balaawi murdered at home by a drone strike

Later in the day, Palestinian journalist and English teacher Omar Al-Balaawi was killed due to open fire from Israeli drones targeting him while he was near the window of his home on Al-Jalaa Street in northern Gaza. His last message on the Social Media was "We will remain steadfast, we will not leave except to heaven #North Gaza."