Palestinian journo burned alive, media man death toll reaches 210

The death toll of journalists killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza has reached a staggering 210, following the tragic killing of Palestinian journalist Helmi al-Faqawi, the Government Media Office confirmed on Monday.

Al-Faqawi died in a targeted Israeli airstrike that struck a tent designated for journalists near a hospital in Khan Younis, early Monday morning. At least one other person was also killed, and seven others were wounded in the attack.

According to eyewitnesses and initial reports, al-Faqawi was burned alive in the bombing — a horrifying detail that has further intensified global outrage over the targeting of media workers in the conflict zone.

A recent report by the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, published on April 1, noted that Israel’s war on Gaza has become the deadliest conflict for journalists ever recorded. The report said 232 journalists have been killed since October 7, 2023, surpassing journalist casualties in both World Wars, the Vietnam War, the Yugoslav Wars, and the US-led war in Afghanistan combined.

The unprecedented toll has drawn condemnation from international media watchdogs and press freedom organizations, who continue to call for independent investigations and accountability. Many of the journalists killed were reportedly clearly identified as press members and were covering the conflict in areas known to be under Israeli surveillance.

Global human rights groups and UN agencies have reiterated that journalists are protected under international humanitarian law, and deliberate attacks on them may constitute war crimes.

As Gaza remains one of the most dangerous places on Earth for media professionals, calls for a ceasefire and independent international probes into journalist killings are growing louder.