His 8-year-old son also dies
In Israeli attack: ZDF freelancer killed in Gaza
October 19, 2025 – 9:01 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
A ZDF employee and his eight-year-old son are killed in an Israeli air strike in Deir al-Balah. According to survivors, the attack occurred without warning.
A ZDF freelancer was killed in Gaza in the Israeli air strikes on Sunday afternoon. ZDF correspondent Thomas Reichart reports this. At around 3:30 p.m. German time, “our Palestinian colleagues from Palestine Media Production (PMP) were hit by a rocket at their location in Deir al-Balah in southern Gaza,” said Reichart. A 37-year-old engineer and his 8-year-old son were killed. A 31-year-old was injured.
ZDF reports that there was no advance warning. The Israeli army was unable to provide any information when asked – they are checking the incident and will get back to you. According to survivors on site, the attack occurred without any warning.
The employees have been working in Deir al-Balah since June. Reichart explains that they had to leave their previous location in a hospital in Khan Yunis – because their safety was no longer guaranteed there.
ZDF editor-in-chief Bettina Schausten said: “Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, to whom we express our deep condolences. It is unacceptable that media professionals are attacked while doing their work.” According to ZDF, they have been working with PMP for years. The broadcaster writes: “The company also has other international media companies as partners.”
Israel began a new wave of attacks on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip on Sunday afternoon. Israel had previously accused Hamas of violating the agreed ceasefire. Israeli soldiers Yaniv Kula and Itay Yavetz were killed in Rafah on Sunday. Hamas’ military wing said it had nothing to do with the attack on the soldiers.
According to Israeli media, there are said to have been a series of air strikes by the Israeli army in southern Gaza. The attacks are said to have targeted Hamas tunnel systems. Photos from Palestinian media show several columns of smoke over the city of Khan Yunis.
