Azerbaijan Press Council mourns death of TRT journalist in Gaza

The death of Turkish TRT channel employee Yahya Berzak in the Gaza Strip is a great tragedy that once again highlights how dangerous the profession of journalism is and brings to the forefront the issue of working in extreme conditions, the Azerbaijan Press Council said in a statement.

“Unfortunately, the international community remains powerless in the face of such negative trends, which violate freedom of speech and the right to information. Azerbaijani journalism, which has endured two wars since independence, has also suffered losses," the statement reads, Caliber.Az reports.

"We extend our deepest condolences over the death of Yahya Berzak to his family, colleagues, and TRT. Allah rəhmət eləsin!" the Press Council said.

Yahya Berzak, a 35-year-old Palestinian freelance photojournalist based in Gaza, was killed on September 30, 2025, in an Israeli airstrike in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip. Working as a contributor for Türkiye's state broadcaster TRT World, Berzak was documenting the war's impact on civilians when the strike hit the area where he was reporting. 

Berzak was in Deir al-Balah—a densely populated refugee camp and humanitarian hub in central Gaza—covering the ongoing Israeli military operations, which have intensified since August 2025. According to TRT World and Palestinian health officials, he was struck by shrapnel from an Israeli airstrike targeting nearby militant positions, though the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has not confirmed specifics about his death. 

By Khagan Isayev