Palestinian journalist dies after images of him ablaze after Israeli strike widely shared online
Ahmad Mansour, a Palestinian journalist and editor with news agency Palestine Today, tragically lost his life in a devastating Israeli airstrike that hit a media tent in southern Gaza. Nidaa Mansour, his grieving widow, received the heartbreaking news while she was on her phone. She immediately called her husband, but to no avail. Ahmad had been rushed to the hospital, his condition unknown to her at the time.
The distressing footage that circulated on social media showed Ahmad engulfed in flames, helplessly raising his hands as he sat in the tent. Despite the efforts of bystanders to extinguish the blaze and rescue him, Ahmad succumbed to his severe burns and passed away in the hospital a day after the attack. He leaves behind three young children, his wife Nidaa, and a devastated community of colleagues and friends.
The airstrike that claimed Ahmad’s life also resulted in the deaths of journalist Helmi al-Faqawi and another individual, while nine others were injured. The media tent, located within the compound of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, became a target of the Israeli strike in the early hours of Monday.
Nidaa recounted how she had urged her husband to leave the area before the attack, but unfortunately, he was unable to escape in time. The loss of Ahmad has left a void in her life and the lives of their children, as they struggle to come to terms with the tragic events that unfolded.
At Ahmad’s funeral, colleagues and loved ones gathered to pay their respects. His body, wrapped in a white shroud, was carried on a stretcher as his wife recited prayers. The heart-wrenching scene underscored the devastating impact of the violence that has plagued Gaza, claiming the lives of innocent civilians and journalists alike.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and the Israeli Security Agency (ISA) claimed that the airstrike targeted a member of Hamas posing as a journalist, alleging that he was involved in documenting and sharing footage of violent incidents. However, these accusations have been refuted by Gaza government officials, who maintain that the victim had no political affiliations.
The death of Ahmad Mansour adds to the growing list of journalists who have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The international community, including organizations like the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), has condemned the attack and called for accountability and the protection of press freedom in the region.
As the cycle of violence continues in Gaza, with casualties mounting on both sides, the need for a lasting ceasefire and a peaceful resolution to the conflict becomes increasingly urgent. The tragic loss of Ahmad Mansour serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of war and the importance of preserving the fundamental rights of journalists to report the truth without fear of reprisal.
