Hossam Shabat, a 23-year-old Al Jazeera journalist, was killed by an Israeli airstrike targeting his vehicle in Beit Lahiya on Monday, March 24. His death marks the fifth Al Jazeera journalist killed by Israel. Less than an hour before his death, Shabat had reported on another Palestinian journalist killed in an Israeli strike. 

His team later released his final message, which he had prepared in anticipation of being targeted, after he narrowly survived an Israeli attack in November 2024, when forces bombed a home shortly after he entered.

According to his colleague, Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum said that despite being wounded in another Israeli attack, Shabat wanted to “continuing news reporting” in Gaza. He added that the Israeli military didn’t give any prior warning before targeting his vehicle. 

Al Jazeera journalist Hossam Shabat’s last message

“If you’re reading this, it means I have been killed—most likely targeted—by the Israeli occupation forces,” Shabat’s last message, shared by his team after he was killed, read. 

It added, “When this all began, I was only 21 years old—a college student with dreams like anyone else. For the past 18 months, I have dedicated every moment of my life to my people. I documented the horrors in northern Gaza minute by minute, determined to show the world the truth they tried to bury. I slept on pavements, in schools, in tents—anywhere I could.”

“Each day was a battle for survival. I endured hunger for months, yet I never left my people’s side,” the message continued. 

The message further said, “By God, I fulfilled my duty as a journalist. I risked everything to report the truth, and now, I am finally at rest—something I haven’t known in the past 18 months. I did all this because I believe in the Palestinian cause. I believe this land is ours, and it has been the highest honour of my life to die defending it and serving its people.”

“I ask you now: do not stop speaking about Gaza. Do not let the world look away. Keep fighting, keep telling our stories—until Palestine is free,” Shabat urged in his final message. 

Hossam Shabat’s grieving mother

Amal Shabat, the mother of Hossam Shabat, said that her son died as a “martyr” and a “hero”. 

“I am the mother of Hossam Shabat, the journalist, martyr, the hero, who defended his homeland. Everyone loved him. He is a heroic martyr. He is in paradise. My son is in paradise,” said Amal Shabat, holding back tears as she spoke about her son’s tragic death. 

She recalled one of their final moments together: “[In the last days] He brought me a gold ring. He kept saying, “Look at me. How do I look? Am I glowing in light? I see all people around glowing with light.”

“I was at home. I was going to pray. His brothers shouted at that moment, ‘Hossam was martyred mother’. I said, ‘Alhamdulillah. Oh God, give patience to my soul.’” she shared the moment she learned of his death. 

She also described her son’s struggles during the genocide: “He loved everyone. He was kind to everyone. I haven’t seen my son [during the genocide]. I was in the south, and he was in the north. He experienced starvation and was exhausted. He had scarce food in his pocket and a piece of bread in his hand. He would just eat from them every once in a while.”

“From the beginning of the war, he started working as a journalist. He used to move here and there, then he was hired by Al Jazeera. I told him, ‘Those who work with Al Jazeera would die.’ He answered, ‘I’m not better than my colleagues. They are all my brothers.’”

He was a Hamas sniper, claims IDF

The Times of Israel reported that Hossam Shabat was killed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). However, the publication claimed that he was an active Hamas member who had participated in attacks against Israel and the IDF.

The report further alleged that the IDF had evidence linking Shabat to Hamas’s Beit Hanoun Battalion as a sniper. It also referenced an October statement from the IDF, which identified six journalists in Gaza, including Shabat, as alleged members of militant groups.

“During the war, Shabat carried out attacks and participated in terrorist activities against IDF forces and citizens of the State of Israel. This is further proof of the employment of Hamas terrorists by the Al Jazeera media network,” the IDF was quoted as saying by the outlet.