LONDON: In a heartbreaking turn of events, Palestinian journalist Yahya Subaih lost his life in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City on Wednesday. His death came just hours after he celebrated the joyous arrival of his daughter. Subaih was among a tragic total of at least 11 individuals who perished when Israeli warplanes targeted a restaurant in the Al-Rimal neighborhood, located to the west of Gaza City. Local media reports indicate that dozens more were injured in this devastating attack.

In a separate incident earlier that same day, another journalist, Nour Abdu, was also reported deceased while covering an airstrike at a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City. This particular strike resulted in the death of 16 individuals, as confirmed by officials at Al-Ahli Hospital. Strikes across other regions of Gaza also contributed to a grim tally, with at least 16 additional casualties.

The Government Media Office in Gaza vehemently condemned the recent violence, characterizing it as a “systematic targeting, killing, and assassination of Palestinian journalists.” They called upon the international community to intervene and take action against these atrocities. In their statement, they urged global powers to exert “serious and effective pressure” to halt what they referred to as acts of genocide, emphasizing the need for protection for journalists and media professionals within the Gaza Strip.

Yahya Subaih was a committed journalist who contributed to various media outlets. Just hours prior to his untimely death, he shared a touching photo on social media, holding his newborn daughter. In a heartfelt caption, he expressed, “A little princess has brightened our world.” Disturbingly, footage circulating online shows him dressed in the same clothes he wore in that moment of familial joy.

His tragic passing adds to the alarming statistics of media professionals killed in Gaza, which has tragically transformed into one of the most perilous locations for journalists globally since the onset of Israel’s military campaign on October 7, 2023. According to the Costs of War project conducted by Brown University’s Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, the current conflict has emerged as the deadliest ever documented for journalists.

Reports suggest that more than 170 journalists have been killed in Gaza since the outbreak of this conflict, with some estimates indicating the number could be as high as 214. The overall death toll resulting from Israel’s military actions in Gaza has now exceeded 52,000 individuals, with a significant portion being women and children. Additionally, more than 118,000 individuals have sustained injuries, as reported by health authorities in the territory.