By Lawrence Williams
At least 226 journalists and media workers have been killed since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023. Over 90 percent of those killed were Palestinian journalists, whilst the rest were from Lebanon, Israel and Syria, according to data from the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).
The IFJ and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) have accused the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) of committing “war crimes” against journalists in Gaza. They said that many of those killed by Israeli airstrikes were “deliberately targeted.”
On August 10, the IDF launched an airstrike that killed six journalists in their tent near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza city. Among those killed was Al Jazeera’s Anas al-Sharif, who had reported extensively on the war since it started almost two years ago. The Qatari news organisation said this was another targeted attack on al-Sharif whom Israel had accused of “terrorist affiliation” without supporting evidence.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Israel has a documented history of labeling journalists as terrorists without presenting credible evidence.
The UN Human Rights Council’s independent expert on freedom of expression had previously condemned the IDF “repeated threats” and “unfounded accusations” against al-Sharif. In a July 31 statement, the expert described the IDF acts as ‘a blatant attempt to endanger al-Sharif’s life and silence his reporting’ in Gaza.
Speaking on the recent killing of the six journalists, CPJ Regional Director Sara Qudah said the IDF was “murdering the messengers.”
RSF noted that Israel has constantly targeted journalists in order to prevent them from shedding light on war crimes committed by its military. The French media organisation has now called on the United Nations Security Council to step up and put an end to this impunity.
“RSF calls on the UN Security Council to meet urgently on the basis of Resolution 2222 of 2015 on the protection of journalists in times of armed conflict in order to stop this carnage,” said Thibaut Bruttin, RSF’s director general.
RSF said it has filed several complaints with the International Criminal Court (ICC) on war crimes committed by the Israeli army against journalists in Gaza. The organisation is asking the court to investigate these atrocities and to further recognise Gazan journalists as victims in its ensuing proceedings.
“If granted this status, these journalists would be able to present before the ICC the direct and personal harm they suffered at the hands of Israeli forces in Gaza. Being officially recognised as victims is a first step toward justice, truth, and reparations — and it is an essential step toward protecting press freedom and journalistic integrity in conflict zones,” said RSF.