Al Jazeera correspondent Ismail Abu Omar and photographer Ahmed Matar were seriously injured as a result of an Israeli drone strike in the Mirage area, north of the city of Rafah in southern Gaza. Al Jazeera correspondent Moamen Al-Sharafi reported that an Israeli drone launched at least one missile targeting the correspondent in a direct attack, which immediately resulted in the amputation of Ismail Abu Omar's right leg and severe injury to his left leg. He also sustained serious injuries across his body due to shrapnel from the missile.
Al-Sharafi added that photographer Ahmed Matar suffered severe injuries to one of his hands, as well as wounds across the rest of his body. Eyewitnesses transported both men to a field hospital in the area for first aid before ambulance services arrived to take them to the European Hospital.
For his part, Dr. Mohamed Al-Sha'ar, a specialist in vascular surgery at the European Hospital, reported that the first surgical operation for colleague Ismail Abu Omar was completed, during which an amputation above the knee on his right leg was carried out and severe bleeding in his left leg was stopped. Al-Sha'ar explained that Ismail's condition has stabilized after the cessation of acute bleeding and the return of vital signs. He mentioned that other injuries to his body and upper limbs were also treated, and that he would require several additional operations to be performed later.
A video obtained by Al Jazeera showed the condition of the correspondent and the photographer immediately after they were targeted by the Israeli drone, clearly showing that they were wearing protective vests marked with press insignia, as well as surveillance and filming cameras.
