On Wednesday, the Israeli army killed Palestinian journalist Mohammed Wishah , a correspondent for Al Jazeera Mubasher , using a missile launched from a drone that struck his car on Rashid Street near the Nabulsi intersection, south of Gaza City.
The strike killed Wishah and another passenger, leaving their vehicle a charred wreck by the roadside.
Mahmoud Bassal, Gaza's Civil Defence spokesman, told The New Arab that "rescue teams rushed to the scene, extinguished the fire, recovered the bodies under extremely difficult conditions, and transferred them to al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City".
Bassal said that Wishah had previously survived multiple attacks by Israel while covering Gaza's wars.
"This was a targeted killing, part of a broader policy aimed at silencing Palestinian journalists," he said.
In a press statement, Al Jazeera described the killing as "a flagrant violation of international laws protecting journalists" and urged the international community to take immediate action.
The network mourned a correspondent "who embodied professional courage and was one of the few voices conveying the truth from the heart of Gaza to the world."
The assassination followed a campaign of Israeli incitement. Israeli media and the spokesperson of the army, Avichai Adraee, circulated videos and photos on social media claiming, without any independent verification or evidence, that Wishah was a member of the al-Qassam Brigades.
Human rights observers in Gaza stressed that these claims, unsubstantiated by any credible body, sought to tarnish his reputation and create a pretext for his targeting.
Meanwhile, his colleagues insisted the campaign was part of a deliberate attempt to intimidate journalists covering Gaza . Who is Mohammed Wishah? Mohammed Wishah was born in 1986 in the al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza . He was a father of four. Growing up amid repeated Israeli wars and the ongoing blockade, journalism became his way of giving voice to the voiceless.
He began his career in 2006 at Al-Aqsa TV , later moving into field reporting for regional satellite channels, covering major Israeli wars in Gaza in 2012 and 2014, as well as the current conflict.
Between 2010 and 2014, he worked for the Turkish Arabic-language channel TRT , expanding his media presence beyond Gaza.
The pivotal moment of his career came in 2014 when he joined Al Jazeera Mubasher . There, he emerged as one of the channel's most prominent live correspondents from Gaza .
Although he had studied medical analysis, Wishah chose journalism as his life's mission.
Over two decades, he combined professional courage with a deep sense of humanity, reporting facts with precision and impartiality even amid constant danger.
His colleagues describe him not merely as a reporter but as an analyst, someone who can interpret events so viewers experience them as if they were on the ground. Courage in the heart of war Mahmoud Wishah, Mohammed's brother, described the family's grief to TNA : "He was the voice of truth in Gaza . He survived numerous assassination attempts, yet he risked his life to show the world what was happening. Israel doesn't want the world to know the truth, but they killed my brother while he was doing his job." "While others avoided bombed areas, Mohammed ventured into the heart of danger, filming destruction and victims firsthand," he added. Mohammed Wishah always checked on his family, returning each night to ensure his mother and sisters were safe before resuming his work, according to his brother.
"Mohammed was like a big brother to all journalists […] He fostered relationships among colleagues, helped resolve conflicts, and offered guidance with wisdom and calm," Shadi Shamia, his close friend, told TNA .
"In our last meeting a few hours before his death, his face seemed to say goodbye. He was lost in thought, and his words were heavy, as if it were a farewell we did not understand at the time," Shamia recalled their last meeting.
During the past two years of Israel's genocidal war , Wishah consistently went to the front lines, documenting bombings and massacres, recording victims' testimonies, and broadcasting the destruction live to the world, according to Shameia.
"He often lived away from home in journalists' tents near hospitals and humanitarian centres, available around the clock to capture the unfolding events," he said.
"All our colleagues remember how he guided novice reporters and photographers, teaching them how to cover scenes safely without compromising the story," he added.
In al-Bureij refugee camp, residents remember him for visiting hospitals and humanitarian centres, listening to children, victims, and the wounded, and transforming their stories into powerful reports.
"He wasn't just documenting destruction," Mohammed Ayesh, a resident of al-Bureij, told TNA . "He also captured the resilience of our people, the moments of rebuilding, the glimpses of hope amid devastation."
With Mohammed Wishah's killing, the number of Palestinian journalists killed by Israel since the start of the genocidal war has reached 262, according to the Government media office in Gaza , including reporters and media crews who were injured or killed while covering events.
It called on the International Federation of Journalists, the Federation of Arab Journalists, and other press organisations worldwide to condemn these systematic crimes.
The targeting of Wishah exemplifies the peril faced by journalists in Gaza, where anyone with a camera or a pen risks being silenced.
His career embodied both personal sacrifice and professional dedication, underscoring the importance of documenting the Palestinian reality despite immense danger.