‘Israel’ claims journalist Hossam Shabat killed for being “Hamas sniper”

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) claimed that the killing of journalist Hossam Shabat, a journalist with Al Jazeera, occurred because he allegedly "joined Hamas."

On Tuesday, the 'Israeli' military and Shin Bet announced that Shabat, who they allegedly accused of being a sniper and part of Hamas' military wing, was killed in an assassination on March 24, 2025.

A joint statement claimed that Shabat was allegedly linked to Hamas' Beit Hanoun Battalion, with his affiliation uncovered in October 2024 through internal documents, which allegedly revealed his participation in military training with Hamas since 2019.

The statement also accused Shabat of involvement in attacks against 'Israeli' forces and civilians during the ongoing aggression, asserting that his case was additional evidence of Hamas allegedly using members of Al Jazeera’s network for its operations.

However, this is not the first targeting of journalists in Gaza or other occupied territories. Just hours before Shabat's assassination, journalist Mohammed Mansour, a reporter for Palestine Today TV, was killed in an 'Israeli' airstrike on his apartment in southern Gaza's Khan Yunis. His wife and child were also killed in the attack, confirmed by the broadcaster.

Following these two assassinations, the Government Media Office in Gaza reported that the number of martyrs among journalists had risen to 208, with the death of Shabat.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza released its daily report on the ongoing 'Israeli' aggression, stating that 61 martyrs arrived at hospitals between March 23 and 24, including four recovered from the rubble, with 134 new injuries.

Since March 18, 2025, the ministry confirmed 730 martyrs and 1,367 injuries, bringing the total number of casualties in Gaza since October 7, 2023, to 50,082 martyrs and 113,408 injuries.