Israel-Gaza War: the Most Dangerous Conflict for Journalists
According to Jodie Ginsberg, President of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an international advocacy group for reporters, the Israel-Gaza war is the most dangerous conflict for journalists since the group began keeping records 30 years ago.
CPJ reports that 61 journalists and media workers are confirmed dead with other reports so far unconfirmed. This number includes 54 Palestinian, 4 Israeli, and 3 Lebanese reporters, with 11 journalists reported injured, 3 journalists reported missing and 19 journalists reported arrested.
There have also been numerous assaults, threats, cyberattacks, censorship, and killings of family members.
CPJ is also investigating numerous unconfirmed reports of other journalists being killed, missing, detained, hurt, or threatened, and of damage to media offices and journalists’ homes.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told Reuters and Agence France Press news agencies that it could not guarantee the safety of their journalists operating in the Gaza Strip, after they had sought assurances that their journalists would not be targeted by Israeli strikes.
CPJ
The Committee to protect journalists has joined more than 200 organizations in urging the U.N. Security Council, the U.N. Secretary General, and all world leaders to ensure an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories to prevent further harm to civilians.
The joint statement:
. . . we put our voices together and call on all Heads of State, the UN Security Council, and actors on the ground, to prioritize the preservation of human life above all else. During this ceasefire, we call on all parties to unconditionally:
- Facilitate the delivery of lifesaving assistance, including food, medical supplies, fuel, and the resumption of electricity and internet to Gaza, in addition to safe passage of humanitarian and medical staff.
- Free all civilian hostages, especially children and elderly
Allow humanitarian convoys to reach UN facilities, schools, hospitals, and health facilities in northern Gaza and commit to protecting them along with the civilians and staff inside them at all times.- Rescind orders by the Government of Israel for civilians to depart northern Gaza.
- Allow patients in critical condition to be medically evacuated for urgent care.
- The UN Security Council, the UN Secretary General and all world leaders with influence must take immediate action to ensure a ceasefire comes into effect. It remains our only option to avert further loss of civilian life and humanitarian catastrophe. Anything less will forever be a stain on our collective conscience.
Civilians are not bargaining chips. Families need a chance to bury and mourn their dead. The cycle of violence against innocent civilians needs to stop.
Joint statement signed by 200 organizations
The Seattle city council passed an amended resolution on November 21 calling for a ceasefire in the Israel Gaza war. The measure introduced by council member Kshama Sawant passed with 3 abstensions—3 of the council members declined to cast a vote.
I testified in favor of the ceasefire resolution as Executive Director for Democracy Watch News, citing statistics on the number of journalists killed and wounded.
Other city councils across the US have since passed ceasefire resolutions including Atlanta, Oakland and Providence.
In addition, 18 elected officials from the Los Angeles region presented an open letter to President Biden and Secretary Blinken, calling for a “permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the safe return of all of those who have been taken captive . . . and an end to the collective punishment of Palestinians.”
