Around 60 media and rights organizations on Monday urged the European Union to suspend its cooperation agreement with "Israel" and impose sanctions, accusing the entity of "massacring journalists" in Gaza.

The joint statement, led by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and supported by 59 other organizations, cited the unprecedented number of journalists killed and ongoing press freedom violations by Israeli authorities since October 7.

The groups called for the suspension of the EU's Association Agreement with "Israel" and the adoption of targeted sanctions against those responsible.

It is worth noting that the appeal came ahead of an EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on August 29.

According to the letter, the period following October 7, 2023, has been the deadliest for journalists in decades. The letter reported that over 130 Palestinian journalists and media professionals have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza since October 7, with at least 30 killed while on duty. Additionally, three Lebanese journalists — Reuters' photographer Issam Abdallah, Al Mayadeen's correspondent, Farah Omar, and cameraman Rabih Me'mari — were also killed during this period.

"The targeted or indiscriminate killing of journalists, whether committed deliberately or recklessly, is a war crime," the letter added.

Julie Majerczak, the head of RSF's Brussels office, highlighted that the EU's association agreements with non-member countries, including "Israel", are governed by Article 2, which mandates respect for human rights and democratic principles.

"The Israeli government is clearly trampling on this article. The EU, which is Israel's leading trade partner, must draw the necessary conclusions from this and must do everything to ensure that the (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu government stops massacring journalists and respects the right to information and press freedom by opening media access to Gaza," she stressed.

Not an Isolated incident 

In a recent letter addressed to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, 113 journalists 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 killing 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.

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.