Grim Toll of Israel-Gaza Conflict: 59 Palestinian Journalists Killed

Grim Toll of Israel-Gaza Conflict: 59 Palestinian Journalists Killed

Over the past month and a half, the escalating conflict between Israel and Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip has claimed the lives of at least 59 Palestinian journalists, emphasizing the precarious situation and risks faced by media personnel in the region. The violence has sparked a broader social media campaign, underscored by the hashtag #GazaGenocide, to spotlight the suffering of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and depict the conflict as a form of genocide.

Unprecedented Casualties Among Journalists

Among over 14,000 fatalities since the onset of the war on October 7, at least 50 are journalists and media workers. This data, curated from the Committee to Protect Journalists’ (CPJ) regional sources and media reports, is being regularly updated. The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor has accused Israel of perpetrating ‘a killing spree against journalists’ in the Gaza Strip, urging for immediate international intervention to hold the culprits accountable.

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Journalists: Targets or Collateral Damage?

The home of a news photographer in Gaza was struck mere days after an Israeli media advocacy group questioned his coverage of Hamas’ October 7 attack, leading to death threats on social media. This incident underscores the perilous environment for journalists, with multiple casualties and threats. Among the victims was Belal Jadallah, a prominent figure in Palestinian journalism, whose death in an Israeli airstrike has drawn tributes from leaders beyond Gaza and heightened concerns for journalist safety in the region.

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The Information Blackout in Gaza

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) offensive has not only resulted in 48 press member deaths but also engendered a ‘news blackout’. Successive cuts to internet and phone networks, coupled with the rising number of media casualties, have effectively imposed an information blackout on Gaza. Tareq Hajjaj, a Gaza Strip correspondent working as a news writer and translator since 2015, affirms that the hazardous environment in Gaza has made reporting a life-threatening task for journalists.

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