Outrage as Journalist Deaths in Israel-Hamas-War” title=”…-Hamas War (Gaza conflict) | Explanation, Summary, Ceasefire …”>Gaza Reach historic High, Fueling Calls for Accountability
Gaza – the ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of at least 189 Palestinian journalists as of today, marking an unprecedented tragedy for the press globally, according to counts by the Gaza media Center and other Palestinian media groups. The UN human rights office records 247 deaths. This surpasses any previous loss of life among journalists in a single conflict, sparking widespread condemnation and renewed demands for an end to the targeting of media professionals.
The escalating violence has ignited fury within the journalism community, with organizations worldwide uniting to honor the fallen and demand justice for those killed. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reports that at least 26 journalists have been deliberately targeted since October 7, 2023, with the true number likely higher.
This crisis unfolds against a backdrop of longstanding impunity for attacks on journalists in the region. Prior to the current war, the CPJ documented 20 cases since 2001 of the israel Defense Forces’ involvement in the deaths of journalists, including the 2022 killing of Al-Jazeera Arabic correspondent Shireen Abu Akleh – none of which resulted in accountability.
Recently, the IDF admitted to directly targeting Al-Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif and five colleagues, a move widely condemned as a war crime under international law. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the scenes at Nasser hospital as a “tragic mishap,” a statement met with skepticism given Israel’s history of silence surrounding the deaths of journalists.
The intentional targeting of journalists places Israel alongside nations with documented records of suppressing press freedom - including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Venezuela, China, and North Korea – a comparison the author notes Israel “has much work to do…to remove itself from such bad company.”
While acknowledging a lack of expectation for justice, the journalism community vows to continue demanding accountability for the killings and an end to the violence against media professionals. This opinion piece is published as part of a coordinated global effort by media organizations to condemn the deaths of Palestinian journalists and express solidarity with those continuing to report from gaza.