Another Journalist, Moataz Raja Killed by Israeli Strike in Gaza
Over 220 Journalists Killed Since October

A Palestinian journalist, Moataz Raja, was killed in an Israeli airstrike while covering the war in Gaza. The Gaza Journalists Syndicate confirmed that Raja was “assassinated” by the Israeli military after an airstrike targeted a civilian vehicle he was traveling in on al-Nafaq Street in Gaza City. He was killed instantly.
Eyewitnesses at the scene said the vehicle was not marked in any military capacity and there were no prior warnings before the strike. The targeted car was reduced to twisted metal, and Raja’s body was pulled from the wreckage by civil defense teams. His killing adds to the growing list of media workers who have lost their lives while reporting from Gaza since the war began.
Over 220 Journalists Killed Since October
According to the Gaza Journalists Syndicate, Moataz Raja is the 221st journalist killed in Gaza since the start of the conflict on October 7, 2023. Most of the casualties are local Palestinian journalists who have been documenting Israeli airstrikes, ground raids, and the humanitarian crisis.
The syndicate strongly condemned the attack, calling it a targeted killing aimed at silencing press freedom. International journalist organizations and press freedom advocates also expressed outrage and called for an immediate investigation. Media watchdogs argue that the systematic killing of journalists in Gaza represents a clear violation of international humanitarian law.
Many of the journalists killed were working in the most dangerous conditions, with limited protective gear and no access to safe zones. Despite repeated global appeals to protect media workers, there has been no international mechanism to prevent such attacks.
Gaza’s Health System Under Siege
Alongside the deadly toll on journalists, the broader humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. The United Nations Security Council held a briefing this week to address the collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system. Speakers condemned Israel for both the continued blockade and repeated attacks on hospitals and displacement camps.
Dr. Feroze Sidhwa, a U.S.-based physician who volunteered in Gaza, told the council that Israel is carrying out “the deliberate destruction” of the healthcare infrastructure. He described horrifying conditions where doctors perform surgeries without anesthesia, where there is no electricity, and where medicine has run out.
Dr. Sidhwa’s testimony highlighted the dire state of emergency departments, especially in northern and central Gaza. With many hospitals bombed or non-functional, patients are dying from preventable causes. Premature infants, dialysis patients, and people with chronic illnesses have no access to basic medical care.
Read: Deadly Israeli Airstrike Hits Bureij Refugee Camp, Kills 19 Palestinians
Aid Blockade Worsens Crisis
Israel’s blockade on humanitarian aid continues to fuel the suffering. Border crossings remain closed or tightly restricted, delaying the entry of medical supplies, food, and fuel. Aid agencies have repeatedly warned that people in Gaza are dying not just from airstrikes, but from hunger, thirst, and untreated injuries.
More than a million Palestinians are now displaced within Gaza. Many are sheltering in overcrowded camps or destroyed public buildings. Sanitation, clean water, and food are scarce. Human rights groups and UN officials have described the conditions as “catastrophic” and warned that without immediate intervention, mass civilian deaths are inevitable.
Growing Calls for Accountability
The death of Moataz Raja and the collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system have intensified calls for international accountability. Press organizations are demanding investigations into the killings of journalists, while human rights groups push for legal action against Israel for possible war crimes.
Despite these appeals, many in Gaza feel abandoned. As the war grinds on, those risking their lives to tell the world what’s happening—like Raja—continue to pay the ultimate price. Meanwhile, hospitals crumble, patients suffer, and civilians are left with little hope.
The death toll rises daily, but so do the demands for justice.