Ramallah: Human Rights and Democracy Media Center- SHAMS, urged the international community, the United Nations, the International Federation of Journalists, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to freedom of opinion and freedom of journalism, interfering immediately to stop the systematic targeting of journalists by the Israeli occupation. In this regard, the Israeli army assassinated journalist (Samer Abu Daqqa) and wounded his colleague (Wael Al- Dahdouh). In addition to that, the Israeli army killed journalist Rami Bdeir and some of his colleagues from the Civil- Defense Team while they were trying to reach journalist Samer to rescue him. On a related level, the Israeli army brutally attacked and attempted to murder journalist Mustafa Al- Kharouf in Jerusalem (The Cameraman of Anadolu News Agency) who was referred to Al- Maqassed Hospital for medication as a result of the attack. The crimes against the journalists indicate clearly that this is an Israeli systematic policy to hide the truth and prevent journalists from reporting what is going on in the Gaza Strip and the crimes committed against Palestinians. Targeting the journalists is within the frame of the Israeli government policy to abolish the Palestinian narration and ensure that journalists are not performing their role in reflecting the image of the horrible crimes committed by the Israeli occupation on the ground.
SHAMS Center affirms that the ongoing crimes against journalists are within the policy of the occupation to cover the facts and ensure that the world does not see what is committed against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and in the West Bank, as well. Since 7/10/2023, targeting journalists by the Israeli army recorded unprecedented levels where, up to date, there are 90 Palestinian journalists killed. Targeting journalists reveals the systematic policy applied by the occupation against journalists who are targeted while on duty, inside their workplaces, or in their houses with their families. The Israeli occupation is going deep into the crimes against journalists to hide the truth and ban the world from watching what is going on in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli forces are dealing with journalists in a fascist approach where they are targeted and killed though they are not military targets. Journalists are targeted though they are civilians protected by International law and international humanitarian law.
Shams” Center emphasized that targeting journalists by the Israeli occupation army constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. These laws provide special protection for journalists in times of war and armed conflicts, urging their avoidance of conflict zones and military operations, as stated in Article 79 of the First Optional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions of 1977, which stipulates that “journalists shall enjoy all rights and forms of protection afforded to civilians in international armed conflicts.” Rule 34 of Customary International Humanitarian Law also states that “journalists engaged in professional duties in areas of armed conflict must be respected and protected as long as they do not take a direct part in hostilities.”
This constitutes a clear and serious violation of international human rights law, especially with regard to the decisions of the United Nations Security Council and the General Assembly concerning the protection of journalists. This includes Security Council Resolution 1738 of 2006, condemning any attack on journalists during armed conflicts and emphasizing the necessity of their protection, as well as Security Council Resolution 2222 of 2015, calling for the protection of journalists and media personnel and stressing the need to avoid targeting and destroying equipment, offices, and studios. Additionally, General Assembly Resolution 68/168 of 2013 condemns acts of violence against journalists during armed conflicts and urges ensuring their safety.
SHAMS Center condemned the report issued by (Reporters Without Borders), which considered the killing of Palestinian journalists to be accidental and not intentional by the Israeli occupation army. The Center stated that this report, which adopts the Israeli occupation’s narrative, is a clear and biased departure from objectivity, far from the truth. It reflects the agenda of that organization, aligning with the occupation’s policy of targeting and assassinating journalists. Instead, the organization should stand with the victims among journalists, not with the criminals and their aggressive, fascist acts of murder, crime, genocide, and ethnic cleansing.
SHAMS Center emphasized that the ongoing brutal attacks on the Palestinian people and the continuation of daily crimes against Palestinian civilians, including journalists, women, children, and the elderly, in an organized manner, constitute a violation of all values, ethics, humanity, and international laws. This requires serious action to stop it. The scale of the crimes committed against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip since 7/10/2023 is indescribable in relation to the short time period and the population in Gaza.
The number of martyrs has exceeded 18,000, and the number of wounded is over 50,000. Three hundred healthcare professionals have been martyred, 102 ambulances destroyed, 138 health facilities targeted, and 22 hospitals and 52 health centers taken out of service. Medical teams have recorded around 327,000 cases of infectious diseases. The number of children in shelters is approximately 700,000, along with 50,000 pregnant women, and 350 patients suffering from chronic diseases, including 1,100 kidney dialysis patients, according to the data from the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
SHAMS Center condemned the Israeli occupation army’s invasion of the city of Jenin and its refugee camp, resulting in the assassination of 12 martyrs in less than 72 hours. The military incursion also led to the destruction of infrastructure in the city and the refugee camp. The occupation army conducted a sweeping campaign of arrests affecting more than 900 citizens. Moreover, the Israeli soldiers used the mosques to perform Jewish Talmud prayers in public to provoke Palestinians. The soldiers inscribed racist slogans on the walls of buildings, schools, and mosques in the Jenin camp. This constitutes a clear expression of a policy of crime, hatred, denial of the other, and desecration of holy places and places of worship by the Israeli occupation army