113 journalists send letter to Blinken, demand Israeli arms embargo
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The journalists have decried in the letter the killing of more than 160 Palestinian journalists since October 7.
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Palestinian journalists carry mock coffins of Palestinian journalists who were killed during the current war in Gaza during a symbolic funeral toward a United Nations office, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, on November 7, 2023. (AP)
113 journalists sent a letter to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging the Biden Administration to impose an arms embargo on "Israel" for its ongoing genocide in Gaza that has claimed the lives of over 160 journalists.
“Since October 7, 2023, Israel has killed more than 160 Palestinian journalists. This is the largest recorded number of journalists killed in any war," stated the letter, signed by 113 journalists, seven press freedom organizations, and 20 news outlets.
“While Israel’s indiscriminate bombing of the densely populated Gaza means no civilians are safe, Israel has also … repeatedly documented deliberately targeting journalists," it added.
Journalists call out US complicity
In the letter, the journalists called out the United States for its unwavering support for the Israeli occupation, accusing it of complicity with "Israel's" actions.
“Israel’s military actions are not possible without US weapons, US military aid, and US diplomatic support," the letter stated, asserting that "by providing the weapons being used to deliberately kill journalists, you are complicit in one of the gravest affronts to press freedom today."
The restriction of freedom of the press under the Israeli occupation and genocide in Gaza has been a prevalent ongoing phenomenon since October 7.
The occupation has restricted and suppressed media and news coverage through internet outages, imposing military censorship on both local and international journalists, prohibiting international reporters from entering Gaza, and banning media facilities for alleged national security reasons.
“Israel’s deliberate targeting of journalists follows a longstanding pattern by the Israeli government to suppress truthful reporting on its treatment of Palestinians and its war in Gaza,” the letter said.
The occupation's targeting of journalists
It stressed that targeting journalists is a war crime under international law, reminding the US of its law that prohibits aiding foreign forces involved in human rights violations, alluding to "Israel's" record murder of journalists.
In a report released by the International Federation of Journalists, reporters covering the genocide in Gaza are dying at a significantly higher rate compared to other professions.
The report further found that 12% of Gazan journalists have been killed, attributing the "unusually high" mortality rate of media professionals to deliberate Israeli targeting.
Israeli government renews ban on Al Mayadeen Media Network
"Israel's" media censorship and suppression is not limited to Palestinian journalists or coverage, it has also extended to include Al Mayadeen.
The Israeli occupation government approved on Sunday a proposal by Minister of Communications Shlomo Karhi to renew the ban on the Al Mayadeen Media Network. The decision includes the seizure of its equipment and the blocking of its websites.
Israeli media reported that the Minister of Communications pursued a new government decision after obtaining a "professional opinion" from security agencies and receiving approval from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In November 2023, the Israeli Security Cabinet approved the suspension of the Al Mayadeen Media Network in occupied Palestine. The ban followed a joint statement by the Minister of Occupation Security, Yoav Gallant, and the Minister of Communications, Shlomo Karai, who cited the network as a threat to “Israel’s security” as the reason for the ban.
The Israeli decisions against Al Mayadeen Network come as it continues to cover Operation Al-Aqsa Flood since October 7, until today, in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and occupied al-Quds.
