There is a well-established pattern of Israeli forces targeting Palestinian journalists. We must break this cycle of impunity by transparently investigating Israel’s crimes.
In the deadliest year for journalists in recorded history, nearly two-thirds of the total deaths were Palestinians killed by Israel.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reports 85 journalists were killed by Israel in 2024, and 78 in 2023. The group previously reported Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as the “most dangerous situation for journalists” ever recorded.
The international community – from newsrooms to academic institutions to government bodies and beyond – must heed the call of Palestinians demanding justice and accountability for Israel’s human rights violations against journalists and for the protection of media workers in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and East Jerusalem.
In July, the world will mark one year since the killings of Al Jazeera journalist Ismail al-Ghoul and cameraman Rami al-Rifi.
Al-Ghoul and al-Rifi were targeted by an Israeli airstrike shortly after reporting in Gaza City while donning their media vests and identifiable gear as they traveled.
Prior to his murder, al-Ghoul was one of the many Palestinians unlawfully detained by Israel at the al-Shifa hospital complex where CPJ reported al-Ghoul was detained and abused with a number of other journalists in March 2024.
Al Jazeera stated the killing of al-Ghoul and al-Rifi are “part of a systematic targeting campaign against the network’s journalists and their families since October 2023.”
Gaza-based Palestinian journalist Hind Khoudary has consistently stated that journalists have been systematically targeted and attacked by Israeli airstrikes with “zero protection” since October 2023. Attacks on journalists and media works are illegal under international law.
As the anniversary of al-Ghoul’s and al-Rifi’s killings approaches, international bodies must exert increased pressure to hold Israel accountable for the unjust murders of the 163 Palestinian journalists and media workers. (more...)
The global community must do more to demand justice for Palestinian journalists in Gaza and beyond
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