The Gaza Government Media Office announced a devastating milestone in the ongoing genocide against Palestinian media professionals, confirming that the number of journalist martyrs has reached 228 since the beginning of the Zionist aggression on the Gaza Strip. This unprecedented assault on press freedom represents the most systematic targeting of journalists in modern warfare history.The latest victim in this deliberate campaign of terror was photojournalist Ismail Abu Hatab, who was martyred in a targeted Israeli airstrike on the Al-Baqa beachfront cafe in Gaza City on Monday. Abu Hatab, who worked as a freelance photographer for several media platforms and news outlets, had dedicated his career to exposing the catastrophic reality of life under siege in Gaza through his powerful photographic exhibitions held outside Palestine.The attack on the Al-Baqa cafe, which killed at least 33 civilians and wounded 50 others, specifically targeted a location frequented by journalists due to its internet connectivity. This deliberate strike demonstrates the systematic nature of the Zionist occupation’s war against truth and transparency. Among the wounded was journalist Bayan Abu Sultan, who despite sustaining injuries, became an icon of Palestinian steadfastness when footage of her standing firmly with blood covering her face circulated online.The Gaza Government Media Office condemned in the strongest possible terms the targeting, killing, and assassination of Palestinian journalists by the Zionist occupation forces. The statement called upon the International Federation of Journalists, the Arab Journalists Union, and all journalistic bodies worldwide to condemn these systematic crimes against Palestinian journalists and media workers in the Gaza Strip.International press freedom organizations have documented clear evidence of the deliberate targeting of journalists by Israeli forces, which constitutes a war crime under international humanitarian law. The International Federation of Journalists has maintained detailed records showing that at least 171 Palestinian journalists and media workers have been killed, with several injured and others missing during the war in Gaza. However, Gaza’s official count places the number significantly higher at 228 martyrs.Recent attacks have intensified the systematic campaign against media professionals. On June 5, three journalists were killed when Israeli forces targeted a media tent at Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, including Suleiman Hajjaj from Palestine Today TV, Ismail Badah, a cameraman for Palestine Today TV, and Samir Al-Rifai from Shams News Agency. The attack also critically wounded two other journalists and moderately injured a third.The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights emphasized that the continued and escalating targeting of journalists over the past 20 months unequivocally proves these are deliberate and intentional killings, aimed at intimidating, terrorizing, and preventing journalists from exposing the truth to the world. Such targeted attacks are part of the crime of genocide being committed in the Gaza Strip.UN human rights officials have expressed grave concern about information strongly suggesting that Palestinian journalists in Gaza have been directly targeted by the Israeli army while carrying out their work. The UN emphasized that journalists reporting from conflict zones are regarded and protected as civilians under international humanitarian law and must never be targeted while performing their duties of informing the public and contributing to accountability.The Media Office called upon the international community and international organizations, as well as organizations related to journalistic and media work worldwide, to condemn the occupation’s crimes, deter it, and pursue it in international courts for its ongoing crimes. It demanded serious and effective pressure to stop the crime of genocide and protect journalists and media workers in the Strip.This systematic targeting of Palestinian journalists represents not only a war crime but a deliberate attempt to silence witnesses to the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The international community’s failure to hold the Zionist entity accountable for these crimes has emboldened further violations against media professionals who risk their lives daily to document the truth of Palestinian suffering under occupation.