Media Office: Number of journalists killed by Israel in Gaza rises to 239 

The Government Media Office in Gaza has said that the number of journalists killed by Israel since the beginning of its assault has now risen to 239, Al Jazeera Arabic has reported. 

At least three Palestinians were killed on Monday by an Israeli strike on Gaza City, in which journalist Islam al-Koumi and his son were among the victims. 

Earlier this month, Israel assassinated prominent Gaza journalist Anas al-Sharif, along with six other Palestinian journalists in a targeted strike. Four of the journalists, including al-Sharif, worked for Al Jazeera in Gaza.

The other three Al Jazeera journalists killed were correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh, cameraman Ibrahim Zaher, and cameraman Mohammed Noufal.

Israel's army has a special intelligence unit dedicated to smearing and targeting Palestinian journalists in Gaza, according to an investigation by Israeli-Palestinian magazine +972.

Referred to as the “Legitimisation Cell”, the unit was formed in October of 2023 at the onset of the genocide that Israel is waging in the Gaza Strip.