Israeli Forces Shot Palestinian Reporter Salma al-Qadoumi in the Back While Covering Khan Yunis Raid

On Sunday, Israeli Forces shot and injured Palestinian journalist Salma al-Qadoumi while she was covering the Israeli army’s invasion of northwestern Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. Eyewitnesses reported to Anadolu Agency that Israeli forces directly targeted a group of journalists, striking al-Qadoumi in the back. The assault occurred as Israeli military vehicles advanced toward the Hamad residential complex in the Khan Younis district, accompanied by heavy gunfire and shelling.

Palestinian journalist Salma al-Qadoumi is shot in the back by Israeli snipers while covering the israeli invasion of northwestern Khan Yunis pic.twitter.com/bmxYnGb0Rv

— Sarah Wilkinson (@swilkinsonbc) August 18, 2024

The incursion represents a significant escalation in the Israeli military’s ground operations in Khan Younis, part of its broader campaign in the region. The ongoing conflict has drawn widespread international condemnation, particularly following Israel’s disregard for a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire. Despite the resolution, the Israeli offensive has persisted since October 7 last year, following an attack by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas.

The humanitarian toll of the conflict has been catastrophic. According to multiple reports, nearly 40,100 Palestinians—mostly women and children—have been killed, and over 92,500 have been injured. The prolonged blockade on essential supplies, including food, clean water, and medicine, has left vast areas of Gaza devastated, with critical infrastructure reduced to rubble.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has accused Israel of genocide and ordered an immediate halt to its military operations in the southern city of Rafah. The city had become a refuge for over a million Palestinians fleeing the violence before it was invaded on May 6. Despite the ICJ ruling, the Israeli campaign in Gaza has continued, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and raising urgent questions about the conflict’s long-term impact on regional stability and human rights.