Gaza Herald- Days before journalist Mohamed Salama was killed in Gaza, a source for one of his investigations was reportedly detained and interrogated by U.S. security contractors working at a Gaza aid center. According to the source, the contractors questioned them about the identity and whereabouts of the journalist.
Salama, who worked for Middle East Eye and occasionally contributed to Al Jazeera, was killed along with reporter Ahmed Abu Aziz and three other journalists when Israeli airstrikes targeted Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. The attack killed 20 Palestinians, including medics and first responders.
The contractors involved, Safe Reach Solutions and UG Solutions, were asked whether they had questioned the source or passed information to Israel about Palestinian journalists. Neither company responded before the story was published.
Israel and U.S.-Backed Aid System Under Fire
Israel has kept Gaza under total siege since March, controlling aid distribution through the Israel- and U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) while sidelining the UN. Since GHF began operating in May, at least 1,760 Palestinians have been killed while seeking food or assistance.
Although the GHF denies any wrongdoing, multiple former employees have come forward alleging that both Israeli soldiers and U.S. contractors opened fire on civilians at aid sites. The UN has reported that most of the deaths occurred at the hands of Israeli forces overseeing these facilities.
Silencing Journalists and Shifting the Narrative
Salama was known for covering Israeli atrocities in Gaza, including mass graves, massacres of medics, and killings of children seeking aid. His work often exposed crimes that Israeli authorities tried to suppress.
Following his death, Israeli officials labeled the attack a “tragic mishap,” while right-wing Israeli media claimed, without evidence, that the journalists were “terrorists in disguise.” Military sources confirmed to local outlets that the strike had been planned and approved by senior command, contradicting Israel’s attempts to downplay it.
Israel has killed at least 246 Palestinian journalists since October 2023, often attempting to smear victims by linking them to Hamas. More than 62,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, as global outrage over the targeting of civilians and journalists continues to grow.
