A number of information crews and impartial photographers went to the home, which lies west of Gaza Metropolis within the Shati refugee camp, round 4 p.m. native time to cowl the fallout from Haniyeh’s dying, stated native freelance photographer Ayman al-Hissi. Ghoul and Rifi have been amongst that group, reporting for Al Jazeera.
Seconds earlier than 4 p.m., Hissi stated the Al Jazeera crew had ready their final report, through which they interviewed Haniyeh’s daughter-in-law, Enas Haniyeh. In the meantime, an “intensive flight of reconnaissance plane” arrived, Hissi stated, and fired a missile on the western a part of the Haniyeh home. The strike precipitated no accidents, in line with Gaza Civil Protection spokesman Mahmoud Bassal, and Ghoul and Rifi left the scene to drive away as shortly as attainable.
One of many reconnaissance planes chased the Al Jazeera workers’ automobile, and Hissi watched as one other missile hit the Aida space close to Haniyeh’s home. The second strike got here round 5 p.m. and hit their automobile immediately, Bassal stated, killing Ghoul and Rifi.
A boy passing by was additionally killed, and his physique was evacuated by ambulance, Bassal stated.
Al Jazeera Arabic managing editor Mohamed Moawad mourned the lack of Ghoul, calling him a “decided journalist who refused to succumb to starvation, sickness and the lack of his brother.”
“He relentlessly coated the occasions and delivered the truth of Gaza to the world by way of Al Jazeera. His voice has now been silenced,” Moawad wrote in a social media submit. “Ismail fulfilled his mission to his folks and his homeland. Disgrace on those that have failed the civilians, journalists, and humanity.”
Hissi, who was 300 meters away from the automobile, accused Israel of putting and killing the reporters regardless of “understanding that they have been all carrying vests with the press image on them, understanding that each one these current within the place have been civilians and journalists.”
In an announcement to The Washington Submit, Al Jazeera stated it “condemns the continuing crimes dedicated by Israeli occupation forces in opposition to journalists and media professionals in Gaza within the strongest attainable phrases.”
“We urge worldwide authorized establishments to carry Israel accountable for its heinous crimes and to demand an finish to the concentrating on and killing of journalists,” the community added.
In March, Ghoul was detained and crushed throughout an Israeli raid on al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, Al Jazeera reported on the time. Ghoul stated he and different detained journalists have been pressured to strip bare and lie on their stomachs for hours.
As of February, greater than 85 journalists had been killed within the first 4 months of the conflict in Gaza. The conflict has killed greater than 110 journalists and media employees, in line with the Committee to Defend Journalists.
“Journalists are civilians and may by no means be focused,” stated chief govt Jodie Ginsberg, in line with the CPJ. “Israel should clarify why two extra Al Jazeera journalists have been killed in what seems to be a direct strike.”
The Israeli army didn’t reply to a request for touch upon the strike and the targets.
Hazem Balousha, Heba Mahfouz, Missy Ryan, Hajar Harb and Miriam Berger contributed to this report.
