Tel Aviv, 9 December 2023 (dpa/MIA) — A cameraman from the Turkish news agency Anadolu has been killed in the Israeli military airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, according to a statement from the European Alliance of News Agencies (EANA) on Friday.

EANA "deeply regrets the tragic loss of Montaser Al-Sawaf, Anadolu Agency freelance cameraman, in the recent Israeli airstrikes on Gaza," the statement said.

The organization called for greater security and protection for journalists working in the Gaza Strip. The EANA board condemned any form of violence against journalists, noting their crucial role in providing the public with trustworthy information from conflict zones.

"Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased journalist," said EANA leader Alexandru Giboi. "This tragic event is an unfortunate and brutal reminder of the dangers faced by media professionals in conflict areas."

According to the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), 63 journalists have been killed since the beginning of the Gaza war.

Among them are 56 Palestinians and four Israelis as well as three Lebanese, the non-governmental organization said on Friday.

According to the CPJ, journalists in the Gaza Strip are particularly at risk due to the devastating airstrikes, interrupted communication routes, supply bottlenecks and power cuts amid Israel's ongoing military campaign.