Since Israel began its war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, the targeting of journalists has become a regular and seemingly planned act, according to Al Jazeera. Journalists in Gaza have become the target of targeted attacks on their work sites.
Independent figures show that nearly 270 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza over the past 22 months. On average, 13 journalists have been killed per month by Israeli attacks, making it the deadliest war on journalists in history.
The targeting of journalists comes at a time when international media outlets are banned from entering Gaza. This means that Palestinian journalists are the only eyes and ears for the world to know what is happening there. Their killings effectively close any avenues for the truth to emerge.
The latest attacks have targeted media outlets and places where journalists work, such as tents around hospitals and relief sites. Vehicles marked with the word “PRESS” and journalists wearing press jackets have been particularly targeted.
Human rights groups such as Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders have described the killings as war crimes, as international law clearly protects journalists in war zones. They have called for an independent investigation, but so far no concrete action has been taken.
The Israeli government has repeatedly said it is targeting “military targets”, but confirmed incidents show that the attacks are planned and carried out to silence voices reporting on the atrocities in Gaza.
The killing of journalists in Gaza is not a new phenomenon, but part of a long history of targeting Palestinian journalists. Shireen Abu Akleh, a journalist working for Al Jazeera, was killed in 2022 while working on her work, and justice has yet to be served.
There are fears that the ongoing killings of journalists are creating a “news blackout” and a lack of independent reporting on the abuses and war crimes taking place in Gaza. This could give Israel the freedom to carry out its actions without clear evidence.
Journalists in Gaza operate under extremely difficult circumstances – hunger, lack of electricity, limited equipment, and the constant threat of attacks. However, they continue to fulfill their duty to report the truth to the international community.
Targeting journalists is seen as an attack on press freedom, which is an essential pillar of a democratic society. When journalists are silent, it means that the truth is silenced, which is a serious blow to accountability and the protection of human rights.
