News / Palestine

Freelance Palestinian journalist killed in Israeli airstrike in Gaza

Thursday, 02 October 2025 9:56 AM [ Last Update: Thursday, 02 October 2025 9:56 AM ]

Palestinian photojournalist Yahya Barzaq (Photo via social media)

Medical sources in the Gaza Strip say another Palestinian journalist has been killed in an Israeli offensive on the coastal sliver, taking more toll on members of the press ever since the occupying Tel Aviv regime launched its all-out war on the besieged territory.

The sources said Yahya Barzaq was among at least the six people killed in an Israeli drone attack in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza.

Turkish public broadcaster TRT confirmed his death, stating that the freelancer was on assignment documenting the war’s impact on civilians when an Israeli strike hit a cafe where he was apparently uploading footage.

Barzaq, who was widely known in Gaza as a photographer of newborns, had turned to documenting the war, capturing images of destruction and survival.

His feed had transformed into stark images marked by black lines — a symbol of death and destruction.

Israel kills another Palestinian journalist amid global outcry over earlier deaths

Israeli forces have opened fire on a Palestinian journalist in Southern Gaza, hours after he paid tribute to five of his colleagues killed in earlier Israeli strikes.

Zahid Sobacı, Director General of TRT, strongly condemned the attack. He said Barzaq’s killing was another reminder of the dangers facing journalists in Gaza.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague Yahya Barzaq, who was reporting under extremely difficult conditions. Israel will not be able to conceal its crimes against humanity by targeting journalists, and accountability will come sooner or later," he said.

Barzaq stands as one of at least 250 journalists and media workers, who have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, making this war as one of the most fatal for the press in modern times, according to reports from Palestinian and international monitors.

The Federation of News Agencies of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has expressed its deep concern about the continuous assassination of Palestinian journalists by Israeli forces.

The federation said the incidents taking place in Gaza constitute a clear violation of international laws and standards, occurring in conjunction with Israeli violations of press and media freedom, as well as its approach to stifling the truth, silencing opposition, concealing its daily infractions, and hindering their communication to the international community.

The Israeli regime has killed at least 66,148 Palestinians, mainly women and children, in Gaza since October 7, 2023, according to the health ministry of Gaza.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir