War on the press: Gaza remains deadly for journalists

War on the press: Gaza remains deadly for journalists

Current developments in the Gaza Strip show that the situation for journalists is still tense. Despite a formal ceasefire, Israel has again extended the closure of Al Jazeera's office in Ramallah by six months. This reports Mizan Online. At the heart of the controversy is the targeted endangerment of journalists who, after a year of violent attacks, can only report in a precarious environment.

Since October 7, 2023, there have been increasing attacks on journalists in the region. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), 85 journalists were killed in the Gaza Strip alone, including 78 Palestinians. All the more alarming is the fact that 2024 is considered the deadliest year for journalists in Gaza, with at least 124 dead. This exceeds the sad record number of 113 journalists killed during the Iraq War in 2007, as reported by CPJ show.

The deadly attacks

A particularly tragic episode occurred on October 13, 2023, when Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah was killed and several other journalists, including two AFP employees, were injured. U.N. Special Rapporteur Morris Tidball-Binz described this attack as a premeditated and targeted attack in violation of international humanitarian law. He clarified that no combat preceded it and that the material used, a 120mm mortar shell, was used exclusively by the Israeli military.

When one considers the dangers that journalists face today, it is clear that the list of deaths continues to grow. In 2024, three more journalists were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a place of residence marked as journalistic. According to a research by daily news The Gaza Strip is considered the most dangerous environment for journalists in the last 30 years.

Media freedom under pressure

The systematic destruction of Gaza's media infrastructure has made reporting almost impossible. Without international press freedom, access to Gaza for foreign media remains blocked. Foreign journalists are rarely on site, which leads to a distorted perception of the situation. Israeli military censorship has massive influence on reporting and the freedom of movement of reporters.

Palestinian journalists are particularly affected, suffering not only from the dangers of the conflict but also from the threat from Hamas. Some journalists report intimidation and harassment in line with the law. Nevertheless, they continue their work while the families of their deceased colleagues mourn their loved ones.

Call for international support

The situation is bitter. The Commission to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has paid out over $300,000 to more than 1,800 journalists since the start of the conflict to meet their most basic needs. They also provide psychosocial support to over 100 female journalists and offer security advice. Nevertheless, the CPJ calls for greater legal responsibility from Israel for the attacks on journalists and an improved security approach.

As the news from Gaza continues to be overshadowed by innocent victims, the call for press freedom and international support remains more urgent than ever. The loss of journalists is seen not only as a crime against humanity, but rather as the deliberate censorship of reality that should be documented.