Palestinian Journalist Killed by Israel-Linked Militia amid Fragile Gaza Ceasefire

Palestinian journalist Saleh Aljafarawi, 28, was shot dead in Gaza City by members of an armed group tied to the Israeli regime, amid the volatile security situation despite a recent ceasefire.
Saleh Aljafarawi was killed during clashes in Gaza City, days after a ceasefire was declared between Hamas and the Israeli regime.

Palestinian sources said that Aljafarawi, widely known for documenting Israel’s war on Gaza, was shot and killed by an “armed militia” while covering unrest in the Sabra neighborhood.

He had been missing since Sunday morning.

Palestinian reports indicated the clashes involved Hamas security forces and fighters from the Doghmush clan in Sabra, though local authorities have not confirmed the details.

A senior source in Gaza’s Ministry of Interior said the confrontation involved “an armed militia affiliated with the (Israeli) occupation,” describing it as a force undermining Gaza’s stability.

The source added that the militia had targeted displaced Palestinians returning to Gaza City, further deepening public outrage.

Despite the truce, officials warned that the security landscape in Gaza remains precarious after months of Israeli aggression.

Earlier this year, Aljafarawi had described living under constant fear and displacement during the war.

“All the scenes and situations I went through during these 467 days will not be erased from my memory,” he said in January.

“I lived in fear for every second, especially after hearing what the Israeli occupation was saying about me.”

Aljafarawi had received multiple threats from Israeli sources over his reporting, according to colleagues.

His death adds to what has become the deadliest war for journalists in modern history, with more than 270 media workers killed in Gaza since the Israeli onslaught began in October 2023.

The killing came as the ceasefire entered its third day, ahead of a planned prisoner-captive exchange.