At least 11 journalists have been killed in the current bout of violence in the Middle East amid a massive Israeli air campaign in the Gaza Strip, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said Friday.

A Reuters videographer was killed Friday in Israeli shelling of south Lebanon. Two other journalists from Doha-based Al Jazeera television were injured in the attack.

“In the first seven days of fighting, at least 11 journalists were killed, two were missing and two injured,” the New York-based organization said in a statement. “Nine Palestinian journalists have been confirmed dead; one Israeli journalist has been confirmed killed and one reported missing.”

“On October 13, a Beirut-based journalist was killed during a shelling attack in southern Lebanon,” it said.

CPJ said journalists in Gaza face particularly high risks while covering the conflict amid ongoing airstrikes.

“CPJ emphasizes that journalists are civilians doing important work during times of crisis and must not be targeted by warring parties,” said Sherif Mansour, CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa program coordinator. “Journalists are making great sacrifices across the region covering this important conflict. Measures to ensure their safety must be taken by all parties to stop this deadly and heavy toll.”

Israeli forces launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip in response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories.

The conflict began Saturday when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood – a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea and air.

Hamas said the operation was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.

That response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.

More than 3,300 people have been killed since the outbreak of the conflict Saturday, including 1,900 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis. (Anadolu Agency)

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