Ismail al-Ghoul | |
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إسماعيل الغول | |
Born | |
Died | July 31, 2024 Al-Shati refugee camp, Gaza Strip | (aged 27)
Cause of death | Assassinated by IDF[1][2] |
Citizenship | Palestine |
Alma mater | Islamic University of Gaza |
Occupation(s) | Journalist, correspondent |
Years active | 2023–2024 |
Employer | Al Jazeera Arabic |
Ismail Al-Ghoul (Arabic: إسماعيل الغول; January 14, 1997 – July 31, 2024) was a Palestinian journalist and an Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent in the Gaza Strip.[1]
On July 31, 2024, Al-Ghoul and Al Jazeera cameraman Rami Al Refee were assassinated by an IDF airstrike while covering the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh near his family home in the Northern Gaza Strip.[3][2]
Ismail obtained a bachelor's degree in journalism from the Islamic University of Gaza and began his work in the field of written journalism as a correspondent for local letters and Palestinian newspapers.[4]
He later shifted to television, working with several media companies in Gaza.[5][6][7]
On 18 March 2024, Ismail al-Ghoul, along with many other civilians, was arrested by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), during the Al-Shifa hospital siege. al-Ghoul was severely beaten by IDF soldiers and detained for 12 hours before being released.[8][9]
In an interview with Al Jazeera, al-Ghoul claimed that Israeli forces attacked the hospital and targeted journalists, breaking their equipment and arresting them. Al-Ghoul said that the journalists were stripped, blindfolded, and forced to lie on their stomachs with their hands tied. If they moved, the soldiers would shoot at the ground in order to intimidate them. After about 12 hours, the journalists were taken for questioning.[10]
The Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders condemned the assault. They confirmed that al-Ghoul was beaten, and his equipment was destroyed. They also called for an end to such actions.[11]
On 31 July 2024, Ismail al-Ghoul and cameraman Rami al-Refee were in Gaza to report near the home of Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, who had been assassinated earlier that day in Tehran, Iran.[12]
Around 4 pm (PSDT), both journalists were assassinated by an Israeli airstrike that targeted the Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza. The attack was so severe that both of them were decapitated.[13][1]
Al Jazeera's correspondent, Anas al-Sharif, reported on the aftermath from the hospital where the bodies of his colleagues were taken. He said, "al-Ghoul was sharing the suffering of the displaced Palestinians and the suffering of the wounded, and the massacres committed by the Israelis against the innocent people in Gaza." He added.[13]
At the time of the attack, al-Ghoul and al-Refee were wearing media vests, and their car had clear signs identifying them as journalists. They had contacted their news desk just 15 minutes before the strike. During the call, they reported a strike on a nearby house and were told to leave the area immediately. They were on their way to Al-Ahli Arab Hospital when they were killed.[14]
On 1 August 2024 the Israeli military posted a tweet on their official Twitter account bragging about assassinating al-Ghoul and claiming, without proof, that al-Ghoul was a Nukhba operative who participated in the 7 October attack:
🔴ELIMINATED: Ismail al-Ghoul, a Hamas Military Wing operative, Nukhba terrorist and @AJEnglish journalist
As part of his role in the military wing, Al-Ghoul instructed other operatives on how to record operations and was actively involved in recording and publicizing attacks against IDF troops. His activities in the field were a vital part of Hamas' military activity.
The IDF and ISA will continue to operate in order to eliminate terrorists who participated in the October 7 massacre.[15][16]
Al Jazeera refuted these claims, bringing up the fact that al-Ghoul was arrested and released by the Israeli military in March during an Israeli raid on Al-Shifa Hospital which “debunks and refutes their false claim of his affiliation with any organization.”[17] An Israeli military spokesperson said they did not have anything more to say on the topic.[15]
Al Jazeera Media Network has strongly condemned the targeted assassination of its correspondent Ismail Al Ghoul and cameraman Rami Al Refee by Israeli occupation forces. The journalists were killed by a missile strike while covering events in Al Shatei Camp. This attack is part of a broader pattern of systematic targeting against Al Jazeera's journalists and their families since October 2023.Ismail Al Ghoul was known for his dedication and professionalism, bringing global attention to the suffering of the people of Gaza and the actions of the Israeli occupation forces. His impactful coverage, including reports from Al-Shifa Hospital and northern Gaza neighborhoods, resonated worldwide. Despite personal hardships, Ismail remained committed to his work, ensuring that the reality of Gaza was broadcast to the world. The assassination of these journalists underscores the urgent need for international legal action against those responsible to ensure accountability. Al Jazeera condemns the ongoing violence against journalists in Gaza and calls for immediate attention and action from the international community. The network pledges to pursue all legal avenues to bring the perpetrators to justice and reaffirms its commitment to continue reporting on these grave violations, standing in solidarity with all journalists in Gaza.
We are shocked by the violent attack on two well-known Al Jazeera journalists. This is just the latest in nearly 10 months of crimes against journalists in Gaza, where over 120 have been killed. RSF calls on the Israeli government to immediately stop the violence against journalists, which is being committed by the Israeli Defense Forces and could be considered war crimes. We also urge the international community to put more pressure on ensuring that journalists in Gaza can work safely and that justice is served for those who have been killed. This massacre must end now
— Rebecca Vincent, Director of Campaigns, RSF
Documenting a war isn't terrorism, it's journalism. If the @IDF can prove al-Ghoul was working for Hamas’ military, it should do so immediately. If not, this looks like a flimsy excuse for intentionally murdering a journalist from an outlet Israel dislikes.[15][22]
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