Al Jazeera has demanded safety for journalists reporting on Israel’s assault on the Gaza Strip and condemned the “systematic concentrating on” of journalists within the Palestinian territory and the area.
In a press release on Thursday, Al Jazeera Media Community mentioned journalists in Gaza have acquired “grievous threats” as they proceed to report on the continued Israeli assault and the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Gaza’s north.
Since Israel launched its ongoing assault on Gaza in October 2023, Israeli forces have “methodically focused and killed greater than 170 journalists”, it mentioned, together with Al Jazeera journalists.
“These systematic assaults lengthen past particular person tragedies; they represent a calculated marketing campaign to silence those that dare to doc the realities of battle and devastation and a direct assault on the basic proper to data,” the community mentioned.
Moreover, Israeli forces have bombarded Al Jazeera’s workplaces in Gaza, and raided and shut down its workplaces within the occupied West Financial institution metropolis of Ramallah and Jerusalem following the choice by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cupboard in Could 2024 to close the community’s operations inside Israel.
Earlier this month, the community rejected a declare by the Israeli navy that six of its journalists primarily based in Gaza are members of the Palestinian teams Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).
It vehemently condemned the “unfounded allegations” and mentioned its correspondents have been reporting from northern Gaza and documenting the dire humanitarian state of affairs unfolding “as the only real worldwide media” outlet there.
Israel has severely restricted entry to Gaza for worldwide media shops because it launched its assault. No less than 43,204 individuals, largely girls and kids, have been killed in Israeli assaults since October 2023, based on Palestinian well being authorities.
‘Heinous crimes’
Northern Gaza has been underneath siege for greater than two weeks as Israeli forces proceed a renewed floor offensive within the space. Israel has continued to dam the entry of assist and meals from reaching some 400,000 individuals trapped there.
“The accusations of terrorism in opposition to Al Jazeera journalists are each deplorable and unconscionable.
“The Community’s sole mission has been its unyielding dedication to unveiling the harrowing impression of this battle on harmless lives. The brutal assassination and concentrating on of journalists underscore the pressing necessity for instant authorized motion in opposition to the Israeli Occupation Forces for his or her heinous crimes,” the community mentioned, including that the precedent being set in Gaza “threatens the very basis of press freedom worldwide”.
Israeli forces have killed not less than three Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza since October final yr.
In July, Ismail al-Ghoul and his cameraman Rami al-Rifi had been killed in an Israeli air assault on the Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza Metropolis.
In December, Al Jazeera Arabic journalist Samer Abudaqa was killed in an Israeli strike in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis. Al Jazeera’s Gaza bureau chief, Wael Dahdouh, was additionally wounded in that assault.
Dahdouh’s spouse, son, daughter and grandson had been killed in an Israeli air raid on the Nuseirat refugee camp in October final yr.
In January, Dahdouh’s son, Hamza, who was additionally an Al Jazeera journalist, was killed in an Israeli missile strike in Khan Younis.
Earlier this month, Al Jazeera cameraman Fadi al-Wahidi fell right into a coma after being shot by an Israeli sniper in Gaza. Regardless of appeals from three media freedom organisations, the Israeli authorities haven’t allowed al-Wahidi and fellow Al Jazeera cameraman Ali al-Attar, additionally wounded by Israeli forces, to depart Gaza for “lifesaving medical therapy”.
Veteran Al Jazeera correspondent Shireen Abu Akleh was shot lifeless by Israeli forces as she coated an Israeli raid in Jenin within the West Financial institution in Could 2022.
“Al Jazeera stays unwavering in its dedication to pursue all out there authorized avenues to prosecute the perpetrators of those crimes,” the community mentioned in its assertion on Thursday.
Based on the CPJ, not less than 134 journalists and media staff have been killed in Israeli assaults in Gaza because the battle started.
The watchdog mentioned final yr that Israel’s battle on Gaza is the deadliest in fashionable historical past for journalists.
“The time for motion is now,” Al Jazeera mentioned. “The worldwide neighborhood should act decisively to guard journalists and make sure that such crimes don’t stay unpunished.”