The Gaza Project, a collaboration involving 50 journalists from 13 organizations, including Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism, has conducted an investigation into the tragic deaths of three journalists during Israel’s war on Gaza. The investigation focuses on the events leading up to the airstrike that killed the journalists and highlights the failures in the Israeli military’s warning system.
The story begins with Said Al-Taweel, the editor-in-chief of Khamsa News Agency, who had been working tirelessly to cover the Israeli onslaught. On the night of the airstrike, Al-Taweel fell asleep in his office, while his colleague, Alaa Abu Mohsen, also struggled to get enough sleep. Around 1 a.m., word spread that Haji Tower, a high-rise building near Al-Taweel’s office, was going to be attacked. Instead of evacuating, several journalists chose to stay and report on the potential attack.
The Israeli military had issued a warning before striking buildings where civilians could be present. However, in this case, the warning contained false information. The airstrike hit a residential building called Babel instead of Haji Tower. Nine people, including the three journalists, were killed in the attack. The Israeli military claimed that they targeted a facility used by a senior Hamas member and issued a warning to evacuate the area.
International humanitarian law encourages armed forces to provide advance warnings before an attack, but the warnings must be effective. In this case, the warning call contained false information, leading to tragic consequences. The investigation provides a minute-by-minute account of the airstrike based on videos, audio recordings, and photographs. It also includes interviews with eyewitnesses and family members of the deceased.
The investigation reveals how a series of phone conversations led the journalists to their deaths. The journalists had gathered near Haji Tower, believing it to be the target of the airstrike. However, the Israeli military had mistakenly targeted Babel instead. The journalists thought they were in a safe place, but the strike hit the building where they had gathered.
The investigation highlights the failures in the Israeli military’s warning system and raises questions about the effectiveness of the warnings issued. It also sheds light on the dangers faced by journalists in conflict zones and the need for better protection measures. The tragic deaths of these journalists serve as a reminder of the risks journalists face in their pursuit of truth and the importance of holding those responsible accountable for their actions.
