The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) refused to give detailed answers to a series of questions from the CNN on the murders of Al Jazeera journalists Ismail Al-Ghoul and Rami Al-Rifi.
In a statement to the CNN the IDF and the Israeli Security Agency claimed that Al-Ghoul was a “Nukhba terrorist [unidade do Hamas] who participated in the October 7 massacre and was responsible for recording and publishing attacks against IDF troops.”
A CNN asked the IDF for evidence of the charges against Al-Ghoul. In a series of questions sent to the IDF on Thursday, the CNN noted that Ismail al-Ghoul was arrested on March 18 in northern Gaza and released 12 hours later and asked why he had been released if he was an alleged operative of the Al Qassam Brigades — the military wing of Hamas.
A CNN also asked whether the IDF considered Al-Ghoul to be actively engaged in combat and whether his cameraman was also a member of the wing.
The IDF said it had nothing to add to its statement.
Ismail Al-Ghoul and his cameraman, Rami Al-Rifi, who lived in the besieged enclave, were killed in an airstrike on their car in the Al Shati refugee camp, according to the Qatar-based network.
The journalists, both 27, reported live for much of the day from a location near the family home of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in the Iranian capital Tehran this week.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said it was outraged by the murder of the journalists.
“We are appalled by this violent attack on two prominent Al Jazeera journalists – the latest incident in nearly 10 months of crimes against journalists in Gaza, where more than 120 journalists have lost their lives,” RSF said.
“RSF urges the Israeli government to commit immediately to ending the violence against journalists that continues to be ruthlessly committed by the Israel Defense Forces, constituting egregious examples of war crimes,” said Rebecca Vincent, RSF’s Campaigns Director.
RSF said that with the killing of Al-Ghoul and Al-Rifi, the number of Al Jazeera journalists killed in Gaza has risen to five, all of whom were targeted in direct attacks.
The Israeli military said Thursday that Al-Ghoul was a member of Hamas’ military wing and took part in the attack on Israel on Oct. 7.
Source: CNN Brasil
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