Israeli Strike Near Egyptian‑Backed Gaza Camp Kills Three Palestinian Journalists and Other Civilians During Ceasefire Phase
An Israeli strike near an Egyptian‑backed displacement camp in Gaza killed three Palestinian journalists — including AFP contributor Abdul Raouf (Abed) Shaat — when a vehicle was hit about 5 km from the Israeli‑controlled Netzarim area while they were filming; camp officials say the vehicle was known to the Israeli committee, and Israel says it struck a vehicle after spotting suspects operating a drone. The deaths were among at least 11 Palestinians killed across Gaza that day, including two 13‑year‑old boys, a woman and three brothers, prompting calls for a full investigation as press groups note more than 200 Palestinian journalists have been killed since 2023 and independent foreign reporters remain largely barred from Gaza during the ceasefire period.
📌 Key Facts
- On Jan. 21–22, 2026, at least 11 Palestinians were killed across Gaza, including three journalists, two 13‑year‑old boys, a woman and three brothers — one of the deadliest days since the Oct. 10 ceasefire.
- Three journalists were killed when Israeli fire struck their vehicle about 5 kilometers from the Israeli‑controlled Netzarim area while they were filming a newly built displacement camp managed by an Egyptian government committee.
- Camp spokesman Mohammed Mansour said the vehicle was known to the Israeli military as belonging to the Egyptian committee; AFP identified one of the journalists killed as contributor Abdul Raouf (Abed) Shaat and has called for a full investigation.
- The Israeli military said it struck the vehicle after spotting suspects operating a drone it said posed a threat to its forces.
- Hospitals and witnesses reported related civilian incidents that day: 13‑year‑old Moatsem al‑Sharafy was reportedly shot in Bani Suheila while gathering firewood; a 13‑year‑old boy, his father and a 22‑year‑old were hit by Israeli drones on the eastern side of Bureij; and three brothers were killed by tank shelling in Bureij.
- A Palestinian woman was shot and killed in the Muwasi coastal area of Khan Younis, which reporting and hospital sources say is outside Israel’s declared ground‑control zone.
- Broad toll and accountability context: more than 470 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the Oct. 10 ceasefire, the Committee to Protect Journalists says more than 200 Palestinian journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza since 2023, and Israel says it is “continuing to investigate” a separate strike that killed AP visual journalist Mariam Dagga and four others nearly five months earlier.
- Independent foreign reporters remain largely barred from Gaza except on rare guided tours, leaving news organizations dependent on local Palestinian journalists and residents for reporting these incidents.
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
January 22, 2026
6:56 AM
Israeli fire strikes journalists and children in Gaza
New information:
- Confirms at least 11 Palestinians killed across Gaza on Wednesday, including two 13‑year‑old boys, three journalists and a woman, making it one of the deadliest days since the Oct. 10 ceasefire took effect.
- Details that one 13‑year‑old, named Moatsem al‑Sharafy, was reportedly shot by Israeli troops in Bani Suheila while out gathering firewood so his mother could cook, according to his parents’ on‑camera testimony.
- Reports that two other Palestinians — a 13‑year‑old boy, his father and a 22‑year‑old man — were hit by Israeli drones on the eastern side of Bureij camp; Al‑Aqsa Hospital received their bodies and it is unclear if they had crossed into Israeli‑controlled areas.
- Adds that a Palestinian woman was shot and killed by Israeli troops in the Muwasi coastal area of Khan Younis, which is not under Israeli ground control, according to Nasser Hospital.
- Confirms three brothers were killed in separate tank shelling in Bureij camp, according to Al‑Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.
- Includes the Israeli military’s justification that it struck a vehicle after spotting suspects operating a drone it says posed a threat to its forces.
- Provides AFP’s reaction, noting Abdul Raouf (Abed) Shaat was a regular AFP contributor though off assignment, and quotes AFP’s call for a full investigation and description of him as a "kind‑hearted" colleague.
- Updates the cumulative toll, citing CPJ data that more than 200 Palestinian journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza since 2023, and notes Israel still says it is 'continuing to investigate' the separate strike that killed AP visual journalist Mariam Dagga and four others nearly five months ago.
- Notes that more than 470 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10, underscoring that lethal operations have continued despite the formal truce.
- Reiterates that Israel continues to bar independent foreign reporters from Gaza except on rare guided tours, leaving news organizations reliant on local Palestinian journalists and residents.
January 21, 2026
11:29 PM
Israeli fire strikes journalists and children on one of Gaza's deadliest days since ceasefire
New information:
- Confirms at least 11 Palestinians killed across Gaza on the same day, including two 13‑year‑old boys, a woman and three brothers, making it one of the deadliest days since the October ceasefire.
- Details that the three journalists were struck in a vehicle about 5 kilometers from the Israeli‑controlled Netzarim area while filming a newly built displacement camp managed by an Egyptian government committee.
- Camp spokesman Mohammed Mansour says the vehicle was known to the Israeli military as belonging to the Egyptian committee.
- Names AFP contributor Abdul Raouf (Abed) Shaat as one of the journalists killed and quotes AFP’s statement mourning him and demanding a full investigation.
- Adds that the Committee to Protect Journalists counts more than 200 Palestinian journalists and media workers killed in Gaza since 2023, with Israel still saying it is "continuing to investigate" the earlier strike that killed AP visual journalist Mariam Dagga and four others.
- Provides on‑the‑ground hospital accounts of separate incidents in which one 13‑year‑old boy collecting firewood, his father and another man were hit by an Israeli drone near Bureij, and another 13‑year‑old was shot in Bani Suheila.
- Notes that a Palestinian woman was shot in the Muwasi area of Khan Younis, which is outside Israel’s declared control zone, and that three brothers were killed by Israeli tank fire in Bureij.