Ahmed Wishah Remembered by Colleagues

Ahmed Wishah, a 25-year-old cameraman for Al Jazeera Mubasher, was tragically killed in an Israeli air attack on the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza. His death on a Saturday marks him as the 12th journalist from Al Jazeera to be killed in Gaza since October 2023, making the region one of the most perilous places globally for media professionals. The incident also claimed the lives of two other Palestinians in the strike, which occurred despite an earlier ceasefire agreement.

Wishah's passing comes weeks after his brother, Mohammed, also a correspondent for the Doha-based network, died in what was described as deliberate Israeli shelling of his vehicle. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 260 Palestinian journalists have been killed since the conflict began in October 2023.

The Life and Work of Ahmed Wishah

Born in the Bureij refugee camp, Ahmed Samir Mohammed Wishah was the youngest of three brothers. He rose to prominence during the Gaza conflict, often collaborating with and filming alongside his late brother, Mohammed, who was an Al Jazeera Mubasher correspondent killed on April 8. Together, they formed a dedicated media team, meticulously documenting the hardships faced by the Palestinian people and the evolving events of the war.

Following his brother's death, Ahmed publicly appealed to the international community to intervene and prevent further killings of journalists. In April, he stated, "Let the martyrdom of Mohammed Wishah be the end to the killing of journalists. This is my message to the world. Someone should stop the occupation from targeting journalists. That’s our only message: Stop the Israeli occupation from targeting journalists." Beyond his professional duties, Ahmed also took on the responsibility of caring for his late brother's children and assumed additional family obligations.

Colleagues Share Personal Tributes

Talal Mahmoud, an Al Jazeera Mubasher correspondent in Gaza, shared his deep connection with both Ahmed and Mohammed. Mahmoud recounted knowing Ahmed since the start of the conflict, frequently seeing him accompany his brother in their media tent. "Given our shared work, we frequently gathered in that tent at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital or al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat camp, exchanging thoughts and discussing the details of our coverage," Mahmoud explained. He added that Ahmed evolved from a friend into a valued colleague, often joining him on assignments to document the war's events over many months.

Mahmoud also shared a poignant memory from just days before Ahmed's death. "My last encounter with Ahmed was a few days ago when he told us his mother wanted to prepare a meal in memory of his martyred brother, Mohammed. He brought us maftoul [a traditional Palestinian dish], saying, ‘This is from my mother, a mercy offering for the soul of my brother Mohammed. Please pray for him.'" Mahmoud concluded, "We ate until we were full, and we prayed fervently for Mohammed’s mercy and forgiveness."

Khaled al-Shatli, another Al Jazeera Mubasher cameraman, speaking from a cemetery in Bureij, described Ahmed as a kind and principled individual. "When you talk about Ahmed Wishah, you are talking about a polite and highly moral young man," al-Shatli remarked. He emphasized Ahmed's pleasant demeanor and his habit of joking with colleagues. Al-Shatli also noted that Ahmed's final days seemed to carry a sense of farewell. "Just yesterday, he was bidding farewell to his friends and family in the Bureij camp, taking photos with them in what felt like a final goodbye," he said on Sunday. Recalling their last meeting on Friday, al-Shatli mentioned joking with Ahmed about his new clothes, to which Ahmed responded, "It’s an outfit I’m not used to, but perhaps something inside me pushed me to wear it."

Mohammad al-Akhras, a photojournalist with CGTN, remembered Ahmed as "a kind, gentle and deeply principled person who brought a cheerful spirit to his colleagues." Al-Akhras highlighted Ahmed's genuine passion for his work, stating that his primary objective was always to convey the suffering and message of the people. "He always spoke of martyrdom and paradise. Whenever we jokingly asked him, ‘Don’t you want to get married? Don’t you want us to celebrate you?’ he would simply reply, ‘My wedding will be in paradise.’ He attained exactly what he asked for," al-Akhras shared. He further commented on the dangers faced by journalists: "As journalists, we walk this path of martyrdom because the Israeli targeting of the press has become a systematic routine. The occupation wants to assassinate the image, assassinate the truth and obscure reality."

Allegations and Al Jazeera's Response

In a statement to AFP, an Israeli military spokesman accused Ahmed Wishah of being a "Hamas terrorist," an accusation made without presenting any evidence. Al Jazeera vehemently refuted this claim as "baseless," asserting that the Israeli military has "relentlessly spread false allegations" against its staff to "justify its crimes against Al Jazeera journalists and cameramen in Gaza." The media network stated, "These attempts deceive no one and cannot obscure the truth witnessed by the world," labeling the accusations a "smear campaign."

The Committee to Protect Journalists has previously condemned Israel's "smearing of killed Palestinian journalists," noting a pattern of Israel "accusing journalists of being terrorists without producing credible evidence." Al Jazeera reiterated its commitment to pursuing all available legal avenues to prosecute those responsible for the "crimes" against its staff in Gaza, affirming its dedication to covering events in the enclave despite attempts to "silence the voice of truth."

Source: ‘Kind, principled’: Colleagues remember Gaza journalist killed by Israel