RAFIF ESLEEM

Gaza- Israel keeps targeting journalists covering the Israeli attacks on the besieged Gaza Strip. Until now, 11 Palestinian journalists have been killed, 20 more have been injured and two journalists have been missing in Gaza since the Israel-Palestinian war began on October 7.

Palestinian journalist Saba Abu Amra said, “The Gaza Strip has been attacked every day. 52% of the killed people are women and children. There are 50,000 pregnant women in the Gaza Strip and 5,500 of them will give birth this month. All hospitals are about running out of generator fuel and basic supplies. Many hospitals are out of service because the buildings around them were targeted and destroyed by Israel. In addition to pregnant women, there are cancer and kidney patients, who need treatment.”

‘There are people still trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings’

Saba Abu Amra pointing to the people still trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings. “They are waiting to be rescued. More than 470,000 people have been displaced because of Israel’s airstrikes. They have taken shelter in the southern Gaza Strip. There are concerns of the spread of infections due to the lack of water. Israel has violated the international conventions by targeting civilians. As Palestinian journalists, we have been deliberately targeted since the beginning of the attacks, even though we have press ID cards. In addition, dozens of press outlets have been targeted,” Saba Abu Amra told NuJINHA.

‘Solidarity is needed to protect journalists’

Speaking about the reports of the international press outlets on the war, she said, “Some press outlets blame Palestinians. Some reported that Israeli children were beheaded. Then, a CNN reporter issued an apology and said that the reports were not confirmed. The aim of such fake news is to end the international solidarity for the Palestinian cause and the demonstrations demanding an end to the Israeli attacks on Palestinians. If Israel keeps targeting journalists, journalists will not be able to report the facts and the crimes committed by Israel will be covered up. International solidarity is needed to protect Palestinian journalists so that they will report what is happening here impartially.”

Speaking about the report released by the Freedom committee at the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, she said, “According to the report, 11 Palestinian journalists have been killed in the airstrikes on the Gaza Strip since October 7. About 20 journalists’ homes have been destroyed completely and some partially in the airstrikes. The buildings of about 50 press outlets have been destroyed by Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip. Many Palestinian journalists have received threats on social media platforms.”

Saba Abu Amra also told us that the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate sent a letter to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). “In the letter, the syndicate called on all press outlets to adhere to the journalistic values and to be impartial.”