Ongoing military operations by Israel in Gaza have made it the
deadliest and most dangerous war for journalists covering it “in
recent history”, UN independent human rights experts warned on
Thursday.
Expressing deep concern, the Human Rights
Council-appointed experts highlighted the alarming toll on
journalists and media workers in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, particularly in Gaza.
“We are alarmed at the extraordinarily high numbers of
journalists and media workers who have been killed, attacked,
injured and detained in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
particularly in Gaza, in recent months blatantly disregarding
international law,” the experts said.
The experts noted “disturbing reports” of attacks against media
workers despite being clearly identifiable in jackets, helmets
and vehicles marked “press”, seemingly indicating a “deliberate
strategy” by Israeli forces to obstruct and silence critical
reporting.
Dozens dead
Since 7 October, 122 journalists and media workers have lost
their lives in the Gaza Strip, with many others sustaining
injuries.
Four Israeli journalists were killed by Hamas on 7 October, when
fighters from the extremist group which controls Gaza and other
Palestinian militants, attacked Israeli communities in southern
Israel.
“We condemn all killings, threats and attacks on journalists and
call on all parties to the conflict to protect them,” they said.
Dozens of Palestinian journalists have also been detained by
Israeli forces in both Gaza and in the West Bank where
harassment, intimidation and attacks on journalists have
increased since the Hamas terror attacks.
Courage and resilience
The experts paid tribute to the resilience and courage of media
workers in Gaza, noting that rarely have journalists “paid such a
heavy price for just doing their job” as those in Gaza now.
“[They] continue to put their own lives on the line every day in
the course of duty, while also enduring enormous hardship and
tragic loss of colleagues, friends and families in one of the
bloodiest, most ruthless conflicts of our times,” the experts
said.
They highlighted the case of Al-Jazeera journalist, Wael
al-Dahdouh, who lost his wife, two children and a grandson in an
Israeli bombing on 25 October. He also survived a drone attack
that killed his cameraman in late December.
He lost another son, also an Al-Jazeera journalist, along with
another colleague, who were killed by an Israeli drone strike
targeting their car on 7 January 2024.
Possible war crimes
The experts stressed the critical importance of the right to
information as a “survival right” during times of conflict, on
which the very lives of civilians depend, and that journalists
play an “indispensable role” as a vital source of information,
and as human rights defenders and witnesses to atrocities.
“Journalists are entitled to protection as civilians under
international humanitarian law. Targeted attacks and killings of
journalists are war crimes,” the experts warned.
The independent expert called on the International Court of
Justice (ICJ) and the International
Criminal Court (ICC) to pay “particular attention” to the
dangerous pattern of attacks and impunity for crimes against
journalists.
Access to Gaza
The experts further urged Israeli authorities to permit
journalists to enter Gaza and safeguard the safety of all
journalists in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
They called on all combatants to facilitate prompt, independent,
and impartial investigations into every journalist’s killing, in
accordance with international standards.
Mandate to investigate
The experts speaking out are all Special Rapporteurs, who along
with other independent rights experts are mandated to monitor and
report on specific thematic issues or country situations.
They work on a voluntary basis, serve in their individual
capacity, are not UN staff and do not receive a salary.
