One of the most respected journalists in Gaza, Belal Jadallah, died in Israeli shelling, adding to the scores of reporters and media workers who have perished in the war.

Many paid tribute to Jadallah after he lost his life in an Israeli attack on Sunday. His sister told Reuters that he was travelling to the south from Gaza City, but an Israeli tank shell struck him in the Zeitoun neighbourhood.

Jadallah was the chairman of the Gaza Press House – an organisation that aimed to train the region’s future journalists. He was known locally as “the godfather of Palestinian journalists”.

The organisation was set up in 2014 in Gaza, with the purpose of enhancing freedom of expression through training, advocacy and networking programmes.

Jadallah knew most journalists in the besieged area, and he had worked closely with many of them. His mentorship programmes helped many local journalists begin their careers.

The death bring the number of journalists in the area killed since the start of the war on 7 October to 48, according to the  Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). The tally includes four Israeli reporters killed on 7 October during an assault on southern Israel by Hamas-led Palestinian fighters.