The community decries ‘systematic focusing on’ of journalists and requires them to be protected in Gaza and the broader area.
Al Jazeera has demanded safety for journalists reporting on Israel’s assault on the Gaza Strip and condemned the “systematic focusing on” of journalists within the Palestinian territory and the area.
In a press release on Thursday, Al Jazeera Media Community stated journalists in Gaza have acquired “grievous threats” as they proceed to report on the continuing 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 stated, 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 info,” the community stated.
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 Might 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 stated its correspondents have been reporting from northern Gaza and documenting the dire humanitarian scenario unfolding “as the only real worldwide media” outlet there.
Israel has severely restricted entry to Gaza for worldwide media retailers because it launched its assault. At the very least 43,204 folks, largely ladies and youngsters, have been killed in Israeli assaults since October 2023, in response to Palestinian well being authorities.
‘Heinous crimes’
Northern Gaza has been beneath 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 support and meals from reaching some 400,000 folks 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 influence of this battle on harmless lives. The brutal assassination and focusing 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 stated, including that the precedent being set in Gaza “threatens the very basis of press freedom worldwide”.
Israeli forces have killed no less than three Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza since October final yr.
In July, Ismail al-Ghoul and his cameraman Rami al-Rifi have 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.
Veteran Al Jazeera correspondent Shireen Abu Akleh was shot lifeless by Israeli forces as she lined an Israeli raid in Jenin within the West Financial institution in Might 2022.
“Al Jazeera stays unwavering in its dedication to pursue all accessible authorized avenues to prosecute the perpetrators of those crimes,” the community stated in its assertion on Thursday.
In line with the CPJ, no less than 134 journalists and media employees have been killed in Israeli assaults in Gaza for the reason that battle started.
The watchdog stated final yr that Israel’s battle on Gaza is the deadliest in trendy historical past for journalists.
“The time for motion is now,” Al Jazeera stated. “The worldwide neighborhood should act decisively to guard journalists and be certain that such crimes do not stay unpunished.”
