Ramallah- 13/10/2025 In the context of the ongoing escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) expresses its strongest condemnation and denunciation of the killing of journalist SALEH AMER AL-JAAFRAWI (27 years old) in Gaza City on the evening of Sunday. This horrific crime directly undermines press freedom and the public’s right to know, raising serious concerns about the level of protection afforded to journalists during times of crisis.
According to investigations conducted by MADA’s field researcher, journalist AL-JAAFRAWI was present in the Tel Al-Hawa and Al-Sabra neighborhoods in southern Gaza City to prepare a news report on the scale of destruction caused by the occupation, when he was killed by gunfire from armed groups engaged in clashes with security forces.
The targeting of journalists in such a brutal manner is not merely an attack on individuals, it is a blatant assault on human values, on freedom of opinion and expression, and on the principles of a free press. It reflects a dangerous state of lawlessness that threatens civil peace and public safety in the Gaza Strip.
MADA calls on the competent authorities in Gaza to immediately launch an independent and transparent investigation into this crime, to pursue the perpetrators and bring them to justice without delay, and to ensure that no party evades accountability. The Center warns that silence or complacency in holding those responsible for such crimes accountable only worsens the already strained environment in which journalists operate and encourages the continued use of violence with impunity.
MADA also calls for the provision of adequate protection for journalists and media professionals as they carry out their professional duties, and for all parties to respect the right of journalists, both male and female, to work without fear or intimidation. All forms of violence and violations against them must be stopped, as journalists are a fundamental pillar in documenting the truth and conveying the suffering of the population. MADA stresses the urgent need for media protection mechanisms to include clear measures to prevent the recurrence of such crimes, whether committed by armed groups or any other parties.
MADA extends its deepest condolences to the family of our colleague, the martyred journalist SALEH AL-JAAFRAWI, and to the entire Palestinian journalistic community. The Center affirms that the blood of journalists will not be shed in vain, and that the defense of media freedom will remain at the core of its mission.
