Mohammed Wishah, an Al Jazeera Mubasher correspondent, was killed when a drone strike hit his car on the al-Rashid coastal road while he returned to Bureij refugee camp. Dozens of journalists attended his funeral at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital and held a vigil near al-Shifa Medical Complex. Colleagues alleged an incitement campaign against Wishah and called for international accountability and protection for media workers. Al Jazeera says he is the 12th network journalist or media worker killed in Gaza since October 2023.
Al Jazeera Correspondent Mohammed Wishah Killed in Drone Strike; Gaza Journalists Mourn
Journalists in Gaza hold a vigil condemning the killing of Al Jazeera Mubasher correspondent Mohammed Wishah and ongoing attacks on media workers [Abdelhakim Abu Riash/Al Jazeera]
Mohammed Wishah, a correspondent for Al Jazeera Mubasher, was killed when an Israeli drone struck his car on the al-Rashid coastal road as he drove home to Bureij refugee camp. The attack occurred hours after Wishah had been with colleagues at a tent near al-Shifa Hospital in central Gaza City.
Attack and Death
According to witnesses, a missile hit Wishah's vehicle, which immediately caught fire. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The strike shocked Gaza's reporting community and prompted an immediate outpouring of grief.
Funeral and Reactions
Dozens of journalists and family members gathered at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah for a funeral procession on Thursday morning. Colleagues held a vigil at Al Jazeera's tent near al-Shifa Medical Complex, expressing sorrow and anger over what they described as repeated attacks on media workers in Gaza.
Mohammed Wishah’s family bids him a final farewell before his burial at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Gaza [Abdelhakim Abu Riash/Al Jazeera]
"Mohammed was like a spiritual father to us here during the war," said Talal al-Arouqi, a fellow correspondent. "We consulted him on everything, big and small. Everyone here loved Mohammed."
Background
Born in 1986 in Bureij refugee camp, Wishah trained and worked as a journalist before joining Al Jazeera Mubasher—the network's Arabic live channel—in 2018. During the recent conflict he frequently reported from front-line locations, often sleeping in tents with other journalists to remain on duty.
Allegations, Context and Calls for Accountability
Colleagues say Wishah had been the target of an incitement campaign and drew comparisons to earlier campaigns that preceded the killings of other Al Jazeera journalists. Palestinian authorities report that 262 media workers have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war in October 2023. Peers called on international institutions to ensure legal accountability and greater protection for journalists under international humanitarian law.
Impact on Al Jazeera Team
Al Jazeera said Wishah is the 12th journalist or media worker from its Gaza team reported killed since the conflict began. The network named the others as Samer Abu Daqqa, Hamza al-Dahdouh, Ismail al-Ghoul, Ahmed al-Louh, Rami al-Rifi, Anas al-Sharif, Ibrahim al-Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, Muhammad Qreiqeh, Muhammad Salama, and Hussam Shabat. Colleagues vowed to continue reporting despite the risks and ongoing incitement campaigns.
Note: The accounts above reflect statements from colleagues, Al Jazeera and Palestinian authorities. Investigations into the strike and any potential targeting remain unresolved.
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