Gaza Journalist Tears Off Protective Gear After Learning of Colleague's Death Live On-Air
Salman al-Bashir, a journalist working for the Palestinian Authority’s TV channel, said he "can't take it anymore" during a broadcast after learning that his coworker had been killed
A journalist in Gaza tore off his protective gear and said he "can't take it anymore" after learning of his colleague's death live on-air this week.
Salman al-Bashir, a journalist working for the Palestinian Authority’s TV channel, made the remarks after hearing that his coworker Mohammed Abu Hattab had died just 30 minutes after the two were together, The Guardian reports.
The outlet, citing the Palestinian Authority’s official news agency, reports that Abu Hattab was killed along with his family in an Israeli airstrike on their home in southern Gaza.
"We are leaving one after the other, without anyone caring about us, nor about the extent of the disaster that we are all living through in Gaza," al-Bashir said in the footage (translated by The Guardian) while reporting live from the ground. The on-camera news anchor can be seen wiping away tears as he speaks.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Al-Bashir continued: "There is no international protection at all and no immunity. These shields and hats do not protect us. They are just slogans that we wear and they do not protect any journalist at all."
At that point, he removed his protective vest and helmet, adding: "Here we are victims losing lives one after another at no cost. We are waiting for our turn one after the other."
Palestine TV
Gaza Journalist Tears Off Protective Gear After Learning of Colleague's Death Live On-AirThe airstrikes come in the wake of an Oct. 7 terrorist attack on southern Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Following Hamas’ attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared his country "at war" with the Gaza-based group, which is deemed a terrorist organization by the U.S., and launched a series of retaliatory attacks on the Gaza Strip, so far killing more than 9,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.
Only four of what the Israeli Defense Forces believes to be more than 230 hostages have been returned by Hamas, and one hostage soldier was rescued in an IDF special operation.
The Committee to Protect Journalists reports that at least 36 journalists are among the more than 10,000 people killed since the war began.
Reports from shortly after the airstrikes in Gaza began indicated that hospitals in the area are overcrowded and running low on supplies as they try to treat civilians.
For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on People.
