More journalists killed since Oct. 7 than any conflict since 1990: IFJ

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
8 Dec 2023 15:23

The International Federation of Journalists notes that so far, 68 journalists have been murdered since the start of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, which includes 61 Palestinians, and three Lebanese journalists.

A poster with the name and picture of martyred journalist Saed Taweel is posted on mock coffins in the West Bank in the city of Ramallah, Tuesday, November 7, 2023. (AP)

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) revealed on Friday that since October 7, more journalists have been killed in Gaza than in any other conflict since 1990.

"The war in Gaza has been more deadly for journalists than any single conflict since the IFJ began recording journalists killed in the line of duty in 1990," the IFJ statement said, adding, "This year, 72% of journalists killed worldwide have been killed in the Gaza conflict."

The IFJ noted that so far, 68 journalists have been killed since the start of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, including 61 Palestinians, and three Lebanese journalists.

Targeting the internationally protected

In late November, an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon led to the martyrdom of Al Mayadeen's reporter Farah Omar and cameraman Rabih Me'mari, along with Hussein Akil.

Earlier, on October 13, Israeli occupation forces directly targeted a group of journalists in the vicinity of the town of Alma al-Shaab, while they were covering the situation on the border between Lebanon and occupied Palestine, resulting in the martyrdom of Reuters photographer Issam Abdallah and the injury of several others.

The IFJ stated for comparison purposes that three journalists died in each of the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Syria this year.

IFJ President Dominique Pradalie released a statement saying, "The IFJ demands urgent global action to halt this bloodshed. The surge in fatalities, particularly in Gaza, necessitates immediate attention. The IFJ insists that international law is applied, particularly in the Gaza war, where journalists have been targeted by the Israeli army".

The head of the Freedoms Committee at the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, Mohammad al-Laham, explained last week that "the difficulty of monitoring and documenting remains a significant obstacle due to the ongoing and intense nature of the Israeli aggression."