It is a model that emerged amid a genocidal war that was different from all those that preceded it in every respect. It began with the Israeli army closing the Gaza Strip, cutting off electricity and water completely, and halting the flow of food, medical treatment and humanitarian necessities for more than 2.4 million people, who were completely isolated from the world, besieged, and subjected to a barrage of bombs, rockets and shells. At the same time, Israeli forces prevented foreign journalists from reaching the Strip, which they continue to do to this day.

Journalists in the Strip were forced into displacement and homelessness along with the rest of Gaza’s residents. They had to flee their homes together with their families and they lost their offices, which were like second homes to them.

But the matter did not stop there. The occupation deliberately targeted the families of journalists, including my own family, which was displaced to a place we believed, according to what the Israeli army had announced, to be safe.

Then came the direct and deliberate attacks on journalists. They were targeted while working in the field, as happened with our colleague Ismail al-Ghoul; while they were in their work tents, as happened with Palestine Today journalist Ahmed Mansour, who was consumed by fire at night after his work shelter was hit; and even while they were in their homes, with their families, as happened to Mohammed Abu Hatab, correspondent for Palestine TV, only minutes after he had returned to his home in Khan Younis, leading to his killing along with 11 members of his family.