Gaza Journalists in the Crosshairs of Genocide... The Occupation Kills the Witness to Cover Up the Witness

Despite the protection they should enjoy, the Israeli army has not hesitated to target Palestinian journalists throughout the year of its war of extermination on the Gaza Strip, in full view of the world.

Since the outbreak of the war, which is fully supported by America, and as a result of Israeli operations, 174 Palestinian journalists have been killed in the Strip, more than 190 others have been injured, and 87 media institutions have been destroyed, according to Ismail al-Thawabta, the general director of the government media office in Gaza.

With full American support, Israel has been waging a genocide on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, resulting in more than 138,000 Palestinian deaths and injuries, most of them children and women, and more than 10,000 missing, amid massive destruction and famine that has claimed the lives of dozens of children, in one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world.

In defiance of the international community, Israel continues its assault on the Gaza Strip, ignoring the UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate halt, and the International Court of Justice’s orders to take measures to prevent genocide and improve the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Dozens killed

Ismail Al-Thawabta told Anadolu Agency, "The Israeli occupation has been targeting journalists and media professionals since the beginning of the genocidal war in Gaza, as it deliberately kills and liquidates them."

Al-Thawabta revealed that due to the Israeli military operations in Gaza, "we are talking today about the martyrdom of 174 journalists and media professionals, and the injury of 396 others, throughout the year of genocide."

He continued: "We also documented Israel's arrest of 36 journalists during the same war, 4 of whom were released, while 32 are still in prison."

pain and suffering

Every time Palestinian photojournalist Mohammed Al-Za'anin, 43, tries to take a picture of Israeli violations in Gaza, he fears that he might be the next victim.

Al-Zaanin told Anadolu Agency: "We are in the southern Gaza Strip after being displaced from Gaza City (north). I suffer like any citizen from the suffering of forced displacement, but our work is a national message that we must convey to the world."

He added: "I was injured last July, and I recovered, but I still cannot do my job as a photographer to convey the image of the situation and the pain of our people in the Gaza Strip."

He pointed out that "life in Gaza is difficult. We are living a war of extermination, and we have faced suffering that no journalist in the world has seen," explaining: "Every day, we hear about a journalist being injured or killed, which causes a bad feeling."

He stressed that "the occupation does not differentiate between a journalist, a doctor, or a civil defense man, as everyone is targeted in Gaza," expressing his hope that "the war of extermination will end, and he and his family will return to Gaza City, and the suffering of displacement and the pain of war will end."

Missing protection

The situation of journalist Ghazi Al-Aloul is no different from that of his colleagues. He insists on continuing his work despite his suffering from displacement and the loss of many of his family members during the war that has been ongoing for a year on the Gaza Strip.

During Al-Aloul's interview with Anadolu Agency, he denounced the fact that "journalists are protected all over the world, but in the Gaza Strip they are directly targeted by the Israeli occupation."

He said: "Our responsibility is to cover the events, convey the image of our cause, and support the suffering Palestinian people," adding: "We have not had a single day of rest throughout the year, due to the ongoing military operations."

Regarding his balance between his journalistic duties and his role as a family man, Al-Aloul replied: “I have a great responsibility. I cannot describe how difficult my work is as a husband and father of two children.”

He explained that he spends part of his time with his family in the camps to reassure them, then leaves them, not knowing if he will return to them again, heading to the targeted areas to cover the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Strip.

Source: Anadolu Agency