LONDON: An Israeli airstrike killed three journalists in Gaza on Wednesday, the territory’s civil defense agency said. Their deaths came as a report revealed the number of journalists imprisoned worldwide remains close to a record high. The agency said the bodies of Mohammed Salah Qashta, Abdul Raouf Shaat and Anas Ghneim were taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al-Balah following the airstrike in Al-Zahra, southwest of Gaza City. Shaat had regularly contributed photographs and video footage to Agence France-Presse, though he was not on assignment at the time, the news agency said.

The three journalists worked for a committee supervising Egyptian aid in Gaza and were documenting a newly set-up camp.

Another eight Palestinians were killed by Israeli artillery and gunfire across Gaza on Wednesday, according to medics.