Israeli Troops Kill Al Jazeera Journalists, Accuses Victims Of Hamas Agents

JAKARTA - The Israeli military confirmed its military killed Al-Jazeera journalist Ismail Al-Ghoul in an airstrike in Gaza. Israel argued the journalist was a Hamas agent who participated in the October 7 attack on Israel.

Al-Jazeera dismissed Israel's baseless accusations deemed an attempt to justify the intentional killing of its journalists.

"The network condemns the accusations against its correspondent Ismail Al-Ghoul, without providing any evidence, documentation or video," he said.

Qatar broadcaster said on Wednesday Al-Ghoul and cameraman Ramy El Rify were killed in an Israeli attack on Gaza City while tasked with making a documentary near Ismail Haniyeh's home, a Hamas leader killed in Iran on the same day.

The Israeli military said Al-Ghoul was a member of the elite Nukhba unit who took part in the October 7 attack and instructed Hamas operations on how to record operations.

Israel said Al-Ghoul was involved in recording and publishing attacks on Israeli troops.

"Activities in the field are an important part of Hamas military activities," the Israeli military said.

Al-Jazeera says Al-Ghoul has been working for the network since November 2023 and his only profession is as a journalist.

Al-Ghoul was arrested and detained at Al-Shifa Hospital in the northern part of the Gaza Strip in March before being released.

The Israeli government previously banned Al-Jazeera from operating in Israel, accusing it of pose a threat to national security.

Al Jazeera, which is critical of Israel's campaign in Gaza, has denied inciting violence.

Gaza's Hamas-run state media office said the deaths of two Al-Jazeera crews added to the list of Palestinian journalists killed by Israeli gunfire to 165 people since October 7, 2023.