Ramallah: Human Rights and Democracy Media Center- SHAMS, strongly condemns the assassinating of Al Jazeera Satellite Channel Journalists Ismaeil Al Ghoul and Rami Al Raifi, on Wednesday 31/7/2024 in Al Shatee Refugee Camp, to the west of Gaza City. The Center added that this is a double crime that is committed to kill Palestinians and abolish the Palestinian narration and hide the crimes being committed in the Gaza Strip and the genocide war that targets Palestinians. According to the Center, the genocide war in the Gaza Strip is targeting all civilians regardless of their background, sex, or age. The journalists are targeted by killing with no consideration given to the fact that they are civilians and journalists protected by international law. Killing the two journalists indicates that the occupation insists on crimes against Palestinians based on a clear decision from the political bloodthirsty leadership. The work and media coverage of the journalists contributed to publicizing the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation in the Gaza Strip. For that, the occupation is targeting journalists intentionally whereas, since the beginning of the aggression on the Gaza Strip (7/10/2023), 165 journalists have been killed.
SHAMS Centre condemns the systematic murder crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against Palestinian journalists, as they are considered a military target by the Israeli forces. The purpose is to deliver a message to the journalists that they should not work on reporting the news and documenting the crimes in the places targeted by the occupation. The occupation tends to prevent journalists from reporting what is going on in the Gaza Strip and tends to hide the truth from the world, therefore, journalists are targeted always. The occupation seeks to ensure that journalists are not contributing to reporting the daily crimes and the ongoing aggression against Palestinians. The Israeli occupation is proceeding with the crimes against Palestinians while the world is silent, mainly the USA, England, and some European countries. These countries claim that they respect democratic values and the right to access information and expose the world to the truth. The silence of these countries means that they are in alignment with the occupation and its crimes and violating all human values and international law.
The Center affirms that targeting the two journalists, Al Ghoul and Al Raifi, stands as a profound violation of international law and international humanitarian law. In particular, it violates the Geneva Fourth Convention (12/8/1949), which protects civilians under war and armed conflicts. Additionally, the crime violates Article 79 of the First Optional Protocol (1977) annexed to the given Convention, related to international armed conflicts. The protocol considers journalists civilians and they are entitled to the same protection and rights as civilians under armed conflicts. The mentioned article bans attacking civilians and Article 50 of the Protocol, bans applying excessive power against them. The crimes violate the international human rights law, mainly the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 19 of the Declaration states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers”. The Israeli crime violates the United Nations Covenant on Civic and Political Rights (1966) as Article 19 of the Covenant states: “Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice”. Similarly, the crimes violate the Security Council Resolution number 1738/ 2006, which condemns any attack against journalists during armed conflicts and emphasizes protecting them. Moreover, killing the two journalists violates the UNSCR 222/2015 which calls for protecting journalists and media personnel and those working with them and affirms that equipment, cameras, and studios are civic assets that should not be targeted in any hostile attacks. the occupation violates the United Nations General Assembly Resolution number (163/68- 2013) which deplores hostile attacks against journalists during armed conflicts and calls for protecting them.
SHAMS Center highly appreciates the brave positions of Palestinian journalists who guard the truth and work on reflecting the news of what is going on in Palestine. Palestinian journalists are committed to their work and role despite the crimes they face and being targeted directly by the Israeli occupation. Working in these circumstances indicates the level of belonging to Palestine and national questions among the journalists where despite the risks in the field, they are committed to their mission and working to fulfill their duties in defending the nation and facing Israeli crimes.
SHAMS Center demands the United Nations Security Council, the General Assembly, the High Parties signatories of the Geneva Conventions, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the OPT, International League of Journalists, UNESCO, International Committee of the Red Cross, Amnesty International, International Media Organizations, and Governmental/ Non-Governmental organizations, to take immediate measures and exert pressure on the Israeli government to halt its crimes against Palestinian journalists.