WASHINGTON: The US-based Committee to Protect Journalists said on Friday Israeli airstrikes had targeted a clearly marked press vehicle in Gaza City earlier this week.

The air strike killed Hamid Shihab, a driver for the Gaza-based press agency, Media 24.

The agency’s cameraman Hatem Silmy told CPJ that the vehicle was parked outside his home when the car was hit. The two were headed to the Media 24 office so Silmy could report on the ongoing conflict between Israeli and Palestinian forces, the cameraman said.

The car Shihab was driving was clearly marked as a press vehicle.

Pictures posted on Facebook show the word “TV” written in red on the car’s gray hood.

The CPJ noted that so far Israel had attacked 750 targets in Gaza, killing at least 81 Palestinians. No Israeli deaths have been reported despite dozens of rockets launched from Gaza.

The report pointed out that Israeli military had repeatedly targeted journalists during the 2012 conflict with Hamas.

Two buildings, known for housing numerous international and local news organisations, were also hit in those attacks, the report said. At least nine journalists were injured in those attacks.

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2014