The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns in the strongest terms the assassination of photojournalist Mahmoud ‘Issam Wadi by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF), who targeted him in central Khan Younis. This assassination aligns with an IOF policy of killing journalists over the past two years and reflects a clear intent to silence the voices conveying the reality of the genocide to the world.
According to information collected by PCHR staff, at around 11:20 on Tuesday, 02 December 2025, an Israeli drone fired a missile at photojournalist Mahmoud ‘Issam Ibrahim Wadi (34) while he was filming with a drone north of the Khan Younis Municipal building in the city center. As a result, Mahmoud was instantly killed, while another journalist working for Al Jazeera sustained minor injuries.
Initial investigations indicate that Mahmoud was attempting to launch a photography drone in the vicinity of Hmeid Intersection and al-Sekkah Street in central Khan Younis; both areas designated as safe under the ceasefire that entered into force on 10 October 2025.
Mahmoud’s father stated that his son owned al-Quds Photography Studio and worked as a freelance journalist. He added that Mahmoud was operating a drone on behalf of another journalist accompanying him, who works for Al Jazeera and sustained minor injuries in the attack.
With the killing of this journalist, the number of journalists killed by the IOF since 7 October 2023 has risen to 255, including 14 women, according to the Gaza Government Media Office. Among them, 43 journalists were killed while carrying out their professional duties. Dozens of others were killed in targeted attacks on their homes, while additional journalists were killed in indiscriminate bombardments. Moreover, a large number of social media activists have faced systematic incitement and death threats.
Meanwhile, the IOF continues to violate the ceasefire on a daily basis through airstrikes, artillery shelling, and gunfire, killing so far 358 Palestinians and wounding 910 others since 10 October 2025. As a result, the death toll of the Israeli genocide has risen to 70,112, with 170,986 others injured, according to the Ministry of Health.
PCHR asserts that the targeting of journalists aims to isolate the victims and conceal the truth about Israel’s genocide and its repercussions on the Gaza Strip. The systematic killing of journalists forms part of the crimes committed against Palestinians and falls under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court pursuant to Article 8 of the Rome Statute. It also constitutes an arbitrary deprivation of the right to life under Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, for which criminal accountability is required.
PCHR emphasizes that the failure of international justice to hold Israeli leaders accountable for their crimes has emboldened them to continue killing and targeting journalists for assassination.
PCHR calls on the international community to uphold its responsibilities and exert direct pressure on Israel to immediately stop targeting journalists and to provide effective international protection for civilians, including journalists, in the Gaza Strip.
PCHR calls on the United Nations and the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to activate all available measures of pressure to end ongoing crimes, ensure respect for international law, and protect civilians.
PCHR calls upon the international journalists’ organizations, including the International Federation of Journalists, to act urgently to push towards holding Israel accountable for the killing and targeting of journalists in Palestine, particularly in the Gaza Strip.
PCHR also urges the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression to scale up efforts to endure protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and investigate crimes committed by IOF against journalists and media outlets in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).
