Geolocation source

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 TV, and other press 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 neither random nor merely 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 Al-Ahli 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 for 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 through 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, the IDF carried out three separate attacks targeting different journalist teams during their live coverage of the Israeli assault on North Gaza.

Abu Sharkh area: Mohammed Al-Tanani murdered & Tamer Lubbad injured

Palestinian photojournalist Mohammed Al-Tanani was killed by Israeli snipers while reporting on the Israeli ground invasion of the Jabalia camp. His colleague Tamer Lubbad, also a correspondent for Al-Aqsa TV, was injured. On the same day, the IDF completely closed off all access to and from Jabalia and 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. Palestinian Red Crescent crews transported the casualties to Al-Ahli Hospital.

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

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."

Al-Saftawi: Fadi Al-Wahidi injured and paralyzed

Al-Jazeera photojournalist Fadi Al-Wahidi was shot in the neck by an Israeli dronewho chased him and colleagues while they were fleeing the area near Osama Bin Zaid School. The injury made him paraplegic as confirmed by his firend and colleague Anas Al-Sharif:"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."

• Testimony of journalist Islam Badr rushing to evacuate Fadi: "Those were difficult moments. We were in an area that was not sbuject to evacuation orders and far from clashes, wearing our press attire. However, Israelis shot at us directly, twice, to ensure we were hit 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."*

Islam shared more details in his report

Anas al-Sharif and Hossam Shabat, who were also on the scene testified 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"

Journalist Omar Al-Balaawi murdered at home by a drone

Later in the day, Palestinian journalist and English teacher Omar Al-Balaawi was killed by drone fire while he was at the window of his home on Al-Jalaa Street, Gaza City. His last social media post reads: "We will remain steadfast, we will not leave except to heaven #North Gaza."

Updates on Fadi Al-Wahidi's conditions:

On October 11, Fadi awoke from his coma, but Israel would continue denying global appeals to allow him to leave the Gaza Strip for medical treatment.

In protest his mother afflicted with cancer entered a hunger strike on November 16, 2024, and suffered health complications shortly after.

Fadi continued sharing desperate appeals until, after 122 days Israel finally allowed him to leave Gaza for treatment on February 8, 2025, three weeks into the ceasefire