The Taliban strongly condemned today’s Israeli strikes in Gaza that killed five journalists. In a statement, Taliban deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat called the killings an act of “fundamental violence,” arguing that such actions undermine the credibility of those who claim to defend freedom of expression.
The statement further alleged that Israel has killed more than 250 journalists since the beginning of the war, framing these attacks as part of “inhumane crimes against the Muslim people of Palestine” and labeling them as “genocide.”
The latest incident occurred when Israeli forces struck Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in a two-stage attack, killing at least 20 people, including five journalists. The strikes have renewed widespread concern about the deliberate targeting of journalists and blatant violations of international norms.
The Taliban’s condemnation, however, comes against the backdrop of their own severe repression of journalists in Afghanistan. Reports show that in the first three months after their return to power, at least seven journalists were killed. Over the past two decades, more than 130 journalists and media workers have been killed in Afghanistan—many in attacks carried out by the Taliban or unidentified armed groups.
