Journalist Killed, Evacuation Calls Issued as Israel Presses Gaza Offensive

GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories, 25th March 2025 (BSS/AFP) – An Israeli airstrike killed a journalist working with Al Jazeera on Monday, as Israel continued its air and ground offensive in Gaza. The Israeli military also issued new evacuation warnings for northern parts of Gaza, as the offensive escalated following a failed ceasefire extension.

The conflict, which reignited last Tuesday after talks between Israel and Hamas collapsed, has seen intense airstrikes across Gaza and ground operations. On Monday evening, the Israeli military warned residents in Jabalia, Beit Lahia, and Beit Hanoun to head south to shelters ahead of further strikes, citing the return of “terrorist organisations” launching rockets from populated areas.

Earlier that day, an Israeli drone strike targeted a car in Beit Lahia, killing Hussam Shabat, a journalist with Al Jazeera. The vehicle, which displayed an Al Jazeera sticker, was one of more than 10 cars struck in the area. Shabat’s death was confirmed by Gaza’s civil defence agency, and a statement from Al Jazeera referred to him as a “martyr”. The Committee to Protect Journalists reported that Israel had previously accused Shabat, along with five other Palestinian journalists, of being militants—a claim he denied.

A funeral was held for Shabat in Beit Lahia, attended by hundreds of mourners. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate condemned the killing of Shabat and another journalist, Muhammad Mansour of Palestine Today TV, calling the deaths “a crime added to the record of Israeli terrorism”. The Syndicate also reported that more than 206 journalists have been killed since the beginning of the war, which was sparked by Hamas’s attack on Israel on 7th October 2023.

The ongoing violence has led to substantial civilian casualties. According to Gaza’s health ministry, at least 50,082 people have been killed since Israel’s retaliatory operations began. The most recent toll, published on Monday, states that 730 people have died since the resumption of Israel’s bombardments on 18th March.

Israel’s military also reported intercepting three “projectiles” launched from Gaza on Monday evening, with both Hamas and Islamic Jihad claiming responsibility for the rocket fire. Additionally, Israel reported intercepting a missile launched from Yemen, the sixth such incident since the escalation of hostilities in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Israel continued to strike military targets in Syria, with the Israeli Defence Forces confirming airstrikes on the Tadmur and T4 military bases. These strikes come amid warnings from the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, who has expressed concern that Israeli actions in Syria and Lebanon could further escalate tensions in the region.

In Gaza, the municipality of Rafah reported that thousands of civilians are trapped under intense Israeli shelling in the Tal al-Sultan neighbourhood. The local healthcare system has reportedly collapsed, and all communication with the area has been cut off. On Sunday, Israel’s military announced it had encircled the area to “dismantle terrorist infrastructure”.

The situation has sparked widespread condemnation, including from Egypt, which criticised Israel’s announcement of an administration for the “voluntary departure” of Gaza residents to a third country. Egypt’s foreign ministry called the move an affront, given the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the region’s fragile stability.

The conflict, which has already resulted in significant civilian casualties on both sides, continues to draw attention and concern from international bodies and governments.