Moustafa Thuraya
Moustafa Thuraya was killed in a targeted Israeli rocket strike while returning from a reporting mission in southern Gaza, as part of systematic attacks on journalists covering the conflict.
Thuraya died when the vehicle he was traveling in was struck by an Israeli missile in Rafah. Reports confirmed that the journalists’ car was hit despite being on a public road and clearly engaged in media work, returning from a field report in Khan Yunis. International journalist organizations, including RSF, stated that the nature of the strike suggested a targeted attack against members of the press.
Biography
Moustafa Thuraya (1995 – 7 January 2024) was a Palestinian freelance video journalist who worked with several international news agencies, including Agence France-Presse (AFP). Known for his visual storytelling and bravery in documenting the realities of life under siege in Gaza, Thuraya dedicated his career to capturing the truth amid chaos. He was killed in an Israeli rocket attack in Rafah, along with fellow journalist Hamza al-Dahdouh, while returning from a reporting trip in Khan Yunis. His death highlighted the extreme risks faced by journalists working in Gaza and drew international condemnation from press freedom organizations.
Born around 1995 in Gaza, Moustafa Thuraya developed an early interest in media and photography, driven by a desire to show the world the daily struggles of Palestinians living under occupation. As a freelance video journalist, he collaborated with Agence France-Presse (AFP) and other outlets, producing compelling visuals that conveyed the human cost of the conflict. Thuraya’s work was recognized for its sensitivity, accuracy, and courage in covering one of the world’s most dangerous reporting environments.
On 7 January 2024, while returning from Khan Yunis after documenting the aftermath of Israeli strikes, Thuraya was killed when an Israeli rocket directly targeted the car carrying him, Al Jazeera reporter Hamza al-Dahdouh, and journalist Hazem Rajab in Rafah, southern Gaza. Rajab was critically injured in the attack. According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the strike appeared to be deliberate, raising serious concerns about the targeting of journalists in violation of international law.
Thuraya’s death was widely mourned by colleagues and media organizations. AFP expressed deep sorrow over the loss of a talented journalist, and global press watchdogs called for accountability, describing the attack as part of a “systematic campaign” to silence the press in Gaza.
Additional Information
Sources & References
These two journalists were returning from reporting in Khan Yunis when they were killed by what was a targeted Israeli rocket attack on their car in Rafah, according to the information obtained by RSF. A third journalist who was with them, Hazem Rajab, was badly injured. Hamza Wael Dahdouh was the son of Al Jazeera Gaza bureau chief Wael Dahdouh, who was himself injured by an Israeli strike in mid-December.1 rsf.org Open source