Nearly 138 Journalists Killed: Is Israel Deliberately Targeting Journalists?
Almost 138 Journalists Killed in Gaza
Journalists in the Gaza Strip are facing a major crisis amid an ongoing war that has lasted for half a year, during which journalists have experienced multiple crises and targeted attacks, leading Israel to be accused of deliberately killing journalists during the war that began on October 7th last year.
Since the first day of the war, 138 journalists, both men and women, have been killed, with hundreds more injured. Their families have been targeted, their homes, offices, and media headquarters destroyed.
What Does Israel Want from the Press?
The fallout from targeting journalists has opened the doors to global criticism. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, “Preventing international journalists from entering Gaza allows for the spread of misleading information and false narratives.”
This comes as the Foreign Press Association expressed concern that “blocking independent press access raises questions about what Israel does not want the international media to see.”
The association stated that Palestinian journalists in Gaza have faced unprecedented threats and risks while bravely covering events. It added that the Israeli army had granted limited opportunities for media to enter Gaza under strict supervision. In its statement, the association called on Israel to grant broad and unrestricted access to Gaza to international media and considered that “blocking access to independent press raises questions about what Israel does not want the international media to see.”
Aid Workers in the Crosshairs
With the revelation of targeting World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza, which came hours after the targeting of the Iranian consulate in Damascus, the world has only expressed anger and condemnation towards Israel for its actions against aid workers. However, Washington stood out by affirming that there was no evidence that Israel deliberately bombed aid workers. The White House spokesperson stated that President Joe Biden emphasized the need for Israel to protect aid workers, adding that the United States would press Israel to do more to protect aid workers.
According to Palestinian political analyst Abdulhadi Muta’wa, the targeting of journalists in Palestine has been ongoing for decades, and it is well known to everyone that in war, some want journalists not to be present and not to cover events. Now, blatantly, Israel is trying to do that, especially as at the beginning of the war, media and social media exposed many actions of the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip.
Muta’wa added that journalists have become a target if they do not convey the image desired by the stronger party. The Israeli army granted limited opportunities for media to enter Gaza under strict supervision, and blocking access to independent press raises questions about what Israel does not want the international media to see in terms of actions.
According to Dr. Najwa Kamel, a journalism professor, the journalism profession faces many crises, especially during wars. The journalist’s role is to report facts to the public, but there are those who want to report what they want, and that is why journalists in Gaza are under total pressure from Israel, which has been engaged in a war for six months.
