Israeli soldiers on Sunday "deliberately targeted" and wounded journalists from Turkish broadcaster TRT Arabi, in the latest attack on media personnel amid the war in Gaza.
The crew’s car was reportedly shot at by long-barreled weapons during a field mission northwest of Khan Younis, with five bullets hitting the vehicle, which bore a press badge.
TRT Arabi’s correspondent Sami Barhoum sustained minor wounds to his leg, he told the Arabic-language broadcaster, adding that the soldiers "directly targeted their faces and chests".
"We were on a field mission, [and] this car is for the press. To wear the protective gear and helmet is all that indicates that we are journalists," he said.
Images shared online later showed visible damage to the crew's car, including shattered glass.
Barhoum said the crew were in a "safe zone" as designated by the Israeli army, as well as being in an overcrowded area with hundreds of displaced people.
The attack was condemned by Turkey’s Communications chief Fahrettin Altun. In a statement on X, he said: "I condemn the attack on the TRT team, which was directly targeted by Israeli snipers while on duty while trying to report that there is no more space left even in the cemeteries in Gaza."
He vowed that "Israel will certainly be held accountable for its genocidal crimes as well as its attacks and massacres against TRT and other journalists who opened a 'communication corridor' from Gaza to the world", before wishing a speedy recovery to Barhoum and the rest of the crew.
TRT's Director General Zahid Sobaci also slammed the attack, and said on X: "We will never give up being the voice of Gaza, despite all obstacles from the terrorist state of Israel, which recognises no moral or humanitarian boundaries."
This isn’t the first time journalists from the broadcaster have been attacked while reporting on Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza.
In April this year, TRT Arabi journalists was targeted in a tank fire attack in the Nuseirat camp, central Gaza, seriously wounding cameraman Sami Shehadeh.
Shehadeh was so badly injured that doctors had no choice but to amputate his foot, while Barhoum was lightly wounded.
After the attack, Shehadeh said: "My message to the international community, who are seeing us firsthand, is that we’re journalists wearing armour. So, why do you see us wearing helmets? Why? Because they still target us."
Journalists have been frequently targeted and killed during Israel’s 10-month war on the besieged Gaza Strip, which has killed over 40,000 Palestinians in atrocities labeled as genocide by several world leaders, experts and rights groups.
At least 113 journalists, including 108 Palestinian ones have been killed since 7 October, as per the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Gaza’ media office, however, estimates the death toll to stand at 168.
According to international law, "intentionally attacking media personnel operating in areas of armed conflict" constitutes war crimes. International law states that journalists and media workers must be "treated and protected as civilians, and allowed to perform their work without undue interference".