- More than 200 Journalists Killed Since October 2023
- Media Organisations Demand Protection and Free Access
- International Protest
Article Today, Newyork:
Global media organisations have condemned the killing of journalists in Gaza and accused Israel of deliberately targeting them. Over 200 outlets from 50 countries launched coordinated protests on Monday. Newspapers printed black front pages while several television and radio networks suspended broadcasts to mark the campaign. The protests demanded unhindered coverage of the war and an immediate end to attacks on media professionals. According to CNN, organisations such as Reporters Without Borders, Avaaz, and the International Federation of Journalists coordinated the initiative.
Grave Risk to Reporters
The International Federation of Journalists reported that more than 210 journalists have died in Gaza since the outbreak of war on October 7, 2023. The organisation described the conflict as the most dangerous for media workers in modern history. With Israel barring international reporters from entering Gaza, local Palestinian journalists have risked their lives to cover the war. Protesters alleged that many of them were deliberately targeted.
Targeted Attacks
Several well-known Palestinian journalists have been killed in recent Israeli strikes. In early August, five Al Jazeera staff members, including reporter Anas al-Sharif, died in an attack on Gaza City. Mr. al-Sharif had earned recognition in the Arab world for his fearless reporting. Another strike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis claimed the lives of five more journalists, drawing global attention to the peril faced by the press.
Double Tap Strikes
The Nasser Hospital attack highlighted the dangers of what activists termed “double tap” strikes. According to footage obtained by CNN, an initial strike was followed by a second assault when journalists and aid workers arrived to report and assist. Several were killed in the second strike. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later described the incident as tragic.
War Against Journalism
Reporters Without Borders Director-General Thibaut Bruttin warned that the killings represented a direct war on journalism, not merely a consequence of conflict. He criticised attempts to silence the press through targeted killings and disinformation. “Without journalists, who will expose famine, war crimes, or atrocities?” he asked. Protesters insisted on international guarantees for the safety of reporters and free coverage from Gaza. They cautioned that if the attacks continued, the world would lose vital sources of independent information from the region.
