Al Jazeera condemns killing of journalist in Israeli strike on Gaza

The Al Jazeera Media Network logo is seen on its headquarters building in Doha, Qatar June 8, 2017. (REUTERS)
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Updated 16 December 2024
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Al Jazeera condemns killing of journalist in Israeli strike on Gaza

  • “Al Jazeera unequivocally condemns the ongoing crimes committed by Israeli occupation forces against journalists and media professionals in Gaza,” the channel said

DOHA, Qatar: Qatar-based Al Jazeera condemned the Sunday killing of one of its journalists in an Israeli strike on Gaza, calling the death a “targeted killing” in a statement.
He is the fifth Al Jazeera journalist to be killed since the war in Gaza began more than 14 months ago.
“Al Jazeera Media Network condemns in the strongest terms the killing of its cameraman,




Ahmad Baker Al-Louh. (Photo/Facebook)

, 39, by the Israeli occupation forces,” the channel said.
“He was brutally killed in an air strike that targeted a Civil Defense post in the market area of Al-Nuseirat Camp, central Gaza Strip,” it added.
The Israeli military confirmed in a statement it had killed Louh, saying he was a member of Islamic Jihad and “previously served as a platoon commander” for the militant group.
Israel’s military has repeatedly accused journalists from the Al Jazeera of links to Hamas or its ally Islamic Jihad. Al Jazeera has fiercely denied these accusations and said Israel systematically targets its employees in the Gaza Strip.
The military said it struck a “command and control center embedded in the offices of the civil defense organization in Nuseirat,” targeting “Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists.” It said the center was used to target Israeli troops.
Gaza’s civil defense agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal confirmed Louh had been killed in the strike on the Nuseirat camp that also claimed the lives of three members of Bassal’s rescue agency.
Bassal told AFP a warplane had “targeted the Civil Defense site in Nuseirat camp.”
In a statement, the Palestinian militant group Hamas called Louh’s killing an “assassination” and a “war crime,” describing it as “part of a systematic targeting of journalists in Gaza, aimed at intimidating them and deterring them.”

Al Jazeera said Louh’s killing came “just days after the targeting of his house” by Israeli forces who “utterly destroyed” it.
“Al Jazeera unequivocally condemns the ongoing crimes committed by Israeli occupation forces against journalists and media professionals in Gaza,” the channel said.
The network added it would “pursue all legal measures to prosecute the perpetrators” of these crimes.
Since the start of the war in the Palestinian territory on October 7 last year, Al Jazeera has aired continuous on-the-ground reporting on the effects of Israel’s campaign.
The global channel, since before the war, has been the focus of long-running feud with the Israeli government which has repeatedly accused journalists from Al Jazeera of links to Hamas or its ally Islamic Jihad.
In September, Israeli forces raided Al Jazeera’s office in the West Bank, with Israel’s military saying the Ramallah bureau had been “used to incite terror” and “support terrorist activities.”
Al Jazeera called the Israeli raid “a criminal act” and an attack on press freedom.
In April, the Israeli parliament passed a law allowing the banning of foreign media broadcasts deemed harmful to state security.
Based on this law, Israel’s government on May 5 approved the decision to ban Al Jazeera from broadcasting from Israel and close its offices.
In September, armed and masked Israeli forced raided Al Jazeera’s West bank office and issued an initial closure order.
Israel’s military said the Ramallah office was “used to incite terror” and “support terrorist activities,” and Al Jazeera’s broadcasts endangered Israel’s security.
The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists earlier on Sunday said the Israel-Hamas war “has taken an unprecedented toll on Gazan journalists.”
The watchdog said CPJ’s preliminary investigations showed at least 137 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel and Lebanon since October 7, 2023.

 

 


DCO and Arab News partner to combat digital misinformation, explore AI’s impact on media

Updated 06 February 2026
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DCO and Arab News partner to combat digital misinformation, explore AI’s impact on media

KUWAIT CITY: The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) and the international Saudi newspaper Arab News have signed a Letter of Engagement aimed at strengthening knowledge and expertise exchange on the impact of artificial intelligence in the media sector, as well as leveraging expert insights to develop best practices to combat online misinformation amid accelerating technological advancements.

DCO said this step aligned with its efforts to strengthen collaboration with international media institutions to support responsible dialogue around digital transformation and contribute to building a more reliable, inclusive, and sustainable digital media environment.

Commenting on the agreement, Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization, said: “At a moment when AI is reshaping how truth is produced, distributed, and trusted, partnership with credible media institutions is essential.”

She added that “working with Arab News allows us to bridge technology and journalism in a way that protects integrity, strengthens public trust, and elevates responsible innovation. This collaboration is about equipping media ecosystems with the tools, insight, and ethical grounding needed to navigate AI’s impact, while ensuring digital transformation serves people and their prosperity.”

Faisal J. Abbas, Editor-in-Chief of Arab News, emphasized that the partnership enhances media institutions’ ability to keep pace with technological shifts, noting that engagement with representatives of DCO Member States enables deeper understanding of emerging technologies and regulatory developments in the digital space.

He added: “DCO’s commitment to initiatives addressing online content integrity reflects a clear dedication to supporting a responsible digital environment that serves societies and strengthens trust in the digital ecosystem.”

The Letter of agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Fifth DCO General Assembly held in Kuwait City under the theme “Inclusive Prosperity in the Age of AI”, alongside the second edition of the International Digital Cooperation Forum, held from 4–5 February, which brought together ministers, policymakers, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and civil society representatives from more than 60 countries to strengthen international cooperation toward a human-centric, inclusive, and sustainable digital economy.