GAZA STRIP — The Israeli military stated on Thursday, April 9, 2026, that an Al Jazeera journalist who died in an air strike the previous day was an active member of Hamas. The military alleged that the media professional had been using his role as a journalist as a cover for militant activities.
The Qatar-based media organization, Al Jazeera, identified the victim as Mohammed Wishah, a correspondent for Al Jazeera Mubasher. The broadcaster reported that Wishah was killed on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, when an Israeli strike hit the vehicle he was using to travel through the western part of the Gaza Strip. Al Jazeera condemned the incident, describing it as a “heinous crime” and a deliberate attempt by the Israeli occupation forces to target and intimidate members of the press.
Okay News reports that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released a statement on Thursday contradicting the broadcaster’s account. The military claimed that their forces “struck and eliminated” Wishah, whom they identified as a significant figure within the rocket and weapons production headquarters of Hamas. Hamas is the Palestinian Islamist group that has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007. The Israeli military further alleged that Wishah had been actively planning attacks against Israeli soldiers operating within the region.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF), an international non-governmental organization focused on safeguarding the right to freedom of information, also spoke out against the killing. The group noted that Wishah’s death brings the total number of journalists killed by Israeli forces in Gaza to more than 220 over the last 30 months. According to RSF, at least 70 of those individuals were killed while actively performing their professional duties.
This latest incident occurs despite a fragile ceasefire that has been technically in place in the Palestinian territory since October 2025. Al Jazeera noted that Wishah is the 11th member of its staff to be killed in Gaza since the current conflict began following the Hamas attack on Israel on Saturday, October 7, 2023. Other recent casualties mentioned by the network include Mohammad Salama, who was killed in August 2025, and six other staff members who died during an air strike near the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City that same month.
The media network stated it intends to pursue all available legal avenues to hold those responsible for the deaths of its correspondents and staff accountable. Meanwhile, both the Israeli government and Hamas leadership continue to trade accusations regarding violations of the existing truce.
