Human Rights and Democracy Media Center- SHAMS, in recognition of the second anniversary of the assassination of journalist martyr Shireen Abu Akleh and the wounding of journalist Ali Sammoudi, asserts that the Israeli military forces are still, intentionally, targeting Palestinian journalists. The Israeli army is targeting journalists daily, intentionally by killing and injuring throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The Israeli military forces kill journalists directly within the ongoing genocide war committed against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip as well as the ongoing attacks in the West Bank and Jerusalem in front of the world.
SHAMS Center affirms that the anniversary of the killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh comes this year while other Palestinian (male and female) journalists are killed and joined the lists of Palestinian martyrs. Palestinian journalists became the martyrs of the word and photo. They joined the list of the Palestinian journalists martyrs who were killed while they were in the field documenting the news and reflecting the Palestinian narration. Palestinian journalists contributed to reflect the news and the image of what is going on in Palestine and consequently, expose the crimes and savagery of the occupation to the world. Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli forces killed 149 Palestinian journalists (132 males/ 15 females). Those journalists were killed while working in the field and covering the news of the crimes committed by the occupation. In this regard, it is worth mentioning that the journalists killed during World War II (1939- 1944) were only 69. The increase in the number of killed journalists reveals the level of criminality within the behavior of the Israeli occupation against Palestinian journalists.
The Center appreciates, in recognition of the second anniversary of the killing of martyr Shireen Abu Akleh, the distinguished professional work of martyr Abu Akleh and the other Palestinian martyr journalists who were killed while on duty in the field. SHAMS Center salutes the anniversary of martyr Shireen Abu Akleh and asserts that her soul will remain in the sky of Palestine and Palestinians will never forget her. She became a model for all journalists who follow in her footsteps and learn from her loyalty and professionalism in reporting the news of what is happening in Palestine.
SHAMS Center deplores the systematic intentional targeting of Palestinian and international journalists by the Israeli army in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The Israeli military is targeting media crews as well as targeting media facilities and buildings. Additionally, the Israeli authorities are denying international journalists entry to Palestine as well as withdrawing the license of some media agencies as well as restricting the work of global media outlets and closing the offices of these entities. Closing the office of Al Jazeera Satellite Channel Office in Jerusalem comes within this policy. Closing the offices of Al Jazeera comes to cover the truth and report what is going on in Palestine. Targeting media agencies is based on the fact that the media managed to report the ugly criminal face of the occupation and defeats the claim that the Occupation State is the Only modern Democratic country in the region.
SHAMS Center condemns the arbitrary and repressive policies practiced by the occupation against Palestinian journalists through suppression, restricting movement and access to event sites, and targeting them with arrests as part of its strategy to destroy and subjugate the Palestinian media. The number of journalists currently in Israeli occupation prisons is (56), including (45) who were arrested after October 7, 2023, among them (4) female journalists. The occupation has subjected them to all forms of torture during their detention and interrogations, and they are deprived of their basic rights, including family visits, lawyer visits, and provision of basic needs. Additionally, several journalists in Gaza have faced enforced disappearance, including journalists Nidal Al-Wahidi, Haitham Abdel Wahid, Emad Al-Ifranji, and Mohamed Arab. The occupation’s fight against popular digital diplomacy has been strong, restricting Palestinian journalistic content and blocking it from social media and virtual spheres.
SHAMS Center emphasizes that targeting journalists by occupation constitutes a profound violation of international law and international human rights law. The Fourth Geneva Convention, dated 12/8/1949, confirmed the protection of civilians, and since journalists are civilians, they are included in this protection. Article 15 of the Convention stipulates the protection of persons who do not participate in hostilities and do not engage in any military activities during their stay in conflict areas. This targeting also violates Article 79 of the Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions of 1977, which pertains to international armed conflicts and considers journalists as civilians, thereby applying the same protections afforded to civilians in armed conflict and prohibiting direct attacks against them. Additionally, it breaches Article 50 of the same Protocol, which also considers journalists as civilians and affords them the same protections.
Furthermore, this targeting violates relevant UN Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolution 1738 of 2006, which condemns attacks on journalists in armed conflicts and emphasizes the need to protect them, and Resolution 2222 of 2015, which calls for the protection of journalists, media professionals, and associated personnel. This resolution also underscores that media equipment, offices, and studios are civilian assets and should not be targeted during wars and military operations. Additionally, it contravenes UN General Assembly Resolution 68/163 of 2013, which condemns acts of violence against journalists in armed conflicts and urges the need to ensure their safety.
In its statement, SHAMS Center calls on the UN Secretary-General, the UN Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to freedom of Opinion and expression, UNESCO, the International Federation of Journalists, the Arab Journalists Union, international media organizations, and governmental and non-governmental institutions to urgently act and pressure the occupation government to stop its crimes against Palestinian journalists.