Al Jazeera Reporter, Cameraman Seriously Injured in Israeli Strike
Al Jazeera correspondent Ismail Abu Omar and colleague cameraman Ahmed Mater were seriously wounded in an Israeli drone strike in the Mirage area, north of the city of Rafah in southern Gaza.
Al Jazeera reporter Mumen Al-Sharafi reported that an Israeli drone fired at least one missile directly at the two colleagues, resulting in the immediate amputation of Ismail Abu Omar’s right leg and serious injury to his left leg, as well as serious wounds throughout his body from missile shrapnel.
Al-Sharafi added that cameraman Ahmed Mater suffered a severe injury to one of his hands, as well as wounds in other parts of his body. The colleagues were initially taken by bystanders to a field hospital in the area for initial medical care before being transported by ambulances to the European Hospital.
Al Jazeera correspondent highlighted that the colleagues were taken to the operating room for urgent surgical procedures.
Dr. Mohammed Al-Shaer, a specialist in vascular surgery at the European Hospital, confirmed that the initial surgical operation for Ismail Abu Omar had been completed, including the amputation of his right leg above the knee and stopping the bleeding in his left leg.
Al-Shaer explained that Ismail’s condition had stabilized after stopping the severe bleeding and the return of vital signs. He further noted that other injuries to his body and upper limbs were being addressed, requiring several additional surgeries to be conducted at a later time.
A video obtained by Al Jazeera showed the condition of the colleagues immediately after being targeted by the Israeli drone, with both wearing protective vests clearly marked as press and equipped with monitoring and filming cameras.
Yesterday, the Government Media Office in Gaza announced the martyrdom of two Palestinian journalists due to Israeli shelling in the cities of Rafah and Jabalia, south and north of the Gaza Strip, respectively, raising the toll of martyr journalists to 126 since October 7th.
Following the continued aggression on Gaza since October 7th, which has resulted in tens of thousands of civilian casualties, Israel faces accusations of genocide for the first time in its history before the International Court of Justice.
The Gaza Government Media Office condemned the Israeli occupying army’s targeting of Al Jazeera crew for the fifth time, stating that the crew’s targeting is part of intimidating journalists and a failed attempt to conceal the truth.
