Palestinian journalist Saleh Aljafarawi shot dead in Gaza amid ceasefire tensions:

Palestinian sources say that 28‑year‑old journalist and content creator Saleh Aljafarawi was shot and killed while covering clashes in Gaza City’s Sabra neighborhood, just days after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas had come into force. Aljafarawi had gone missing on Sunday morning and later his body was found, wearing a flak jacket marked “press,” in what appeared to be the back of a truck, according to footage verified by Al Jazeera’s Sanad agency. Palestinian sources quoted by Al Jazeera allege he was shot by members of an “armed militia” during the violence. Local reports suggest that the clashes involved a confrontation between Hamas security forces and fighters from the Doghmush clan. Some officials claim the militia was “affiliated with the occupation,” although that has not been independently confirmed. A senior Gaza interior ministry official said security forces had laid siege to the militia group, and claimed that some militia members fired on displaced civilians returning from southern Gaza who were attempting to reenter the city. This comes amid warnings from local authorities that, even under a ceasefire, Gaza’s security environment remains fraught and volatile. Aljafarawi had earned widespread attention in recent years for his frontline video reporting from Gaza. In earlier interviews, he spoke candidly about the dangers he faced, saying he “lived in fear every second” after receiving threats for his work documenting the war. “I was living life second to second, not knowing what the next second would bring,” he had told Al Jazeera. His death is another grim indicator of how perilous reporting has become in Gaza. Since the conflict began in October 2023, more than 270 journalists and media workers have been killed in the enclave — making it the deadliest war ever recorded for journalists. Aljafarawi’s killing comes at a particularly delicate moment. The ceasefire has held so far — and was intended to pave the way for a hostage‑prisoner exchange — but the incident underscores the fragile nature of peace in the region. Meanwhile, a global summit in Sharm el‑Sheikh is set to bring world leaders together to sign a document aimed at ending the war, promoting regional stability, and seeking a lasting peace. Notably, Israel and Hamas will not send delegates to the summit. Reactions to Aljafarawi’s killing have been swift and condemning. The Gaza Government Media Office denounced the assassination as part of Israel’s broader policy of targeting Palestinian journalists — whether by direct bombardment or through proxy armed groups. Many in Gaza and abroad view his death as emblematic of the broader struggle for truth and accountability in wartime. Aljafarawi’s life and work were never without controversy. Some Israeli sources had accused him of being sympathetic to Hamas, while others interpreted his role more broadly as that of a citizen journalist on the frontlines. His following on social media had grown rapidly over the past two years, and his footage often drew international attention. According to his Wikipedia profile, he also helped raise millions in a campaign to rebuild Gaza’s Al‑Nasr Children’s Hospital, though later he was charged by Gaza’s health ministry with mismanagement of those funds. Wikipedia Yet regardless of how he was viewed, Aljafarawi’s brutal killing adds to a chilling pattern: those who dare to document war — especially from within Gaza — risk being silenced forever. And even in a moment of fragile truce, the dangers for journalists and civilians alike remain very real. If you like, I can also produce a graphic or social‑media summary version of this article.

NEWS