Human Rights and Democracy Media Center- SHAMS, affirms that the systematic intentional targeting of Palestinian journalists in the Gaza Strip aims at concealing the truth from International public opinion and to ensure that there is no reporting about the horrific massacres committed by the Israeli occupation against Palestinians. The image that Palestinian journalists reflect from the Gaza Strip is utilized as a tool to convict the Israeli occupation and its military leaders. Additionally, Palestinian journalists contribute to recruiting international support to lobby towards ending Israeli aggression and stopping the crimes committed against Palestinians. The live media coverage from the field played a role in creating a change within the stance of the international governments, the public, syndicates, and lobbying groups, who expressed sympathy and support for the Palestinian people and advocated ending the aggression as well as uncovering the Israeli lies and the false narrative of the occupation.
SHAMS Center deplores the international silence in front of the Israeli crimes of targeting Palestinian journalists systematically while the world is speechless. Since the beginning of the aggression (7/10/2023), 105 Palestinian journalists (including 13 female journalists) have been killed while they are on duty in the field or while they are at their houses and offices. In addition to that, 80 media agencies’ headquarters and facilities were demolished by the Israeli shelling.
SHAMS Center states that targeting journalists in the Gaza Strip is within the systematic targeting of Palestinians in general, which is manifested in killing women, children, and elderly people, alongside with demolishing houses and civic establishments. The Israeli occupation is destroying and polluting the environment in the Gaza Strip as well as forcibly displacing people. The crimes of the occupation reveal the real ugly face of “Israel” and its racist, fascist, and criminal practices. In this regard, the occupation forces are intentionally targeting the Palestinian journalists although they bear the bag and signs, which indicate that they are journalists on duty and have nothing to do with the clashes and the armed conflict on the ground. Targeting journalists is a clear violation of ethical customs and values that protect journalists while they are on duty and reporting to the world about what is going on in the field.
SHAMS Center emphasizes that targeting Palestinian journalists is a profound violation of international law and international humanitarian law, mainly Geneva the Fourth Convention, which protects civilians during armed conflicts. Likewise, Israeli crimes violate Article 79 of the Optional Protocol- 1977, annexed to the Geneva Conventions regarding armed conflicts, which recognizes journalists as civilians and entitled to the rights of civilians during armed conflicts and prohibits targeting them or applying excessive force against them. Article 50 of the Protocol states clearly that what applies to civilians, during armed conflicts, is also applicable to journalists. The Israeli practices stand as a violation of the related resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, mainly Resolution number (1738/ 2006), which condemns any attack against journalists during armed conflicts and calls for protecting them. Furthermore, the Israeli crimes violate Resolution number (2222/ 2015), which calls for protecting journalists and the teams working with them. The Resolution affirms that the premises and equipment of journalists are civic facilities that should be protected. These facilities should not, in any condition, be targeted during war and armed operations. On a related level, through its practices, Israel is violating the United Nations General Assembly Resolution number (68/163 of the year 2013), which condemns the attacks against journalists during armed conflicts and calls upon protecting them in all circumstances.
SHAMS Center calls on the United Nations and its affiliated organizations, the International Federation of Journalists, UNESCO, governmental and non-governmental institutions, and influential international bodies to take action and exert pressure on the Israeli-occupying government to cease its targeting of Palestinian journalists. Those whose voices resonate with truth from the battlefield, conveying the real picture and narrative to the world, revealing the extent of the brutality of this occupation