Six people are dead in Gaza following a series of Israeli air strikes, which included a hit on a residential building that killed an Al Jazeera cameraman. The Foreign Office has called for restraint, but the toll on civilians continues to mount.
The strikes, which took place in the early hours of Thursday, targeted what the Israeli military described as “terrorist infrastructure.” But among the dead was Ahmed al-Hindi, a cameraman for Al Jazeera, who was killed when a missile struck his home in Gaza City. His wife and two children were also seriously injured.
Al Jazeera condemned the attack, calling it a “deliberate targeting of journalists.” The network’s bureau chief in Gaza, Wael al-Dahdouh, said: “This is a clear message to journalists: you are not safe. They want to silence the voice of the Palestinian people.”
The Foreign Office issued a statement urging “restraint from all sides” and emphasising the need to protect civilians. A spokesperson said: “We are deeply concerned by the loss of life. We call on Israel to ensure its operations are proportionate and in line with international humanitarian law.”
But on the ground, the anger is palpable. In the rubble of the building where al-Hindi lived, neighbours sifted through debris, searching for belongings and survivors. “What crime did Ahmed commit? He was just filming,” said a neighbour, who gave his name only as Abu Mohammed. “They kill us and then they say ‘restraint.’ Where is the restraint for our children?”
Since the start of the latest escalation, the death toll in Gaza has exceeded 200, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The UN has warned that the situation is spiralling out of control, with hospitals overwhelmed and essential supplies running low. “The people of Gaza have nowhere to go,” said UN humanitarian coordinator Lynn Hastings. “They are trapped in a cycle of violence that shows no sign of ending.”
Israel says its strikes are aimed at Hamas targets and that it takes steps to avoid civilian casualties. But the evidence on the ground tells a different story. Entire families have been wiped out in their homes. Schools and clinics have been damaged. And now, a journalist has been killed in his own bed.
The killing of al-Hindi has drawn particular condemnation because of the role journalists play in documenting the conflict. “Journalists are not a target,” said the International Federation of Journalists. “We demand an independent investigation into this killing.”
For the people of Gaza, however, there is little hope that any investigation will change their reality. The strikes continue, and the deaths continue. The Foreign Office’s call for restraint rings hollow in a place where restraint has long since been abandoned.
As the sun set over Gaza on Thursday, another funeral was held. This time, for a man who had spent his life trying to show the world what was happening. His camera lay silent in the dust, a testament to a war that shows no sign of ending.