More than 70 journalist associations and unions in dozens of countries have issued a statement urging the Israeli government to take serious measures to protect the lives of journalists covering the Gaza war. According to the International Federation of Journalists, since the start of the war between Hamas and Israel, the number of media personnel killed has exceeded one per day, an unprecedented occurrence. This call demands that the Israeli army fully comply with all international laws, which require all reasonable measures to treat journalists as civilians and protect their lives as much as possible. Anthony Bellanger, Secretary-General of the International Federation of Journalists, commented on this statement: 'The level of casualties among media personnel has shocked journalists worldwide. We demand a clear commitment from the Israelis that their armed forces will do everything possible to ensure that the horrifying statistics of journalists who have lost their lives in this conflict do not increase further.' In recent days, the Israeli army responded to requests from the French and Reuters news agencies for guarantees of their journalists' safety in Gaza, stating that they are targeting Hamas positions throughout Gaza and that Hamas is 'deliberately' conducting military operations 'in proximity to journalists and civilians.' The Israeli army indicated that due to the intense attacks on Hamas positions and the potential for damage to buildings near these militant positions, as well as the unsuccessful firing of Hamas rockets, they told the two news agencies: 'Under such circumstances, we cannot guarantee the safety of your employees, and we urgently ask you to take all necessary measures for their safety.' The International Federation of Journalists' website reported that since the onset of the conflict between Hamas and Israel, at least 32 journalists and media personnel have been killed, with several others injured and missing. An Israeli army spokesperson stated: 'Israeli ground forces are inside Gaza; the safety of journalists cannot be guaranteed.' The death toll of journalists in the Gaza war has reached 19. A Reuters cameraman was killed in southern Lebanon; Israel stated: 'We will investigate.'
Request from 70 Journalist Associations: Israel Must Act to Protect Journalists' Lives
Over 70 journalist associations have called on Israel to protect journalists covering the Gaza conflict, citing unprecedented casualties among media personnel. The Israeli army has responded by stating that it cannot guarantee the safety of journalists due to ongoing military operations against Hamas. This situation highlights the dangers faced by journalists in conflict zones and raises concerns about their protection under international law.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Over 70 journalist associations have urged the Israeli government to take measures to protect journalists in Gaza, where casualties among media personnel have surged. The Israeli army has stated it cannot guarantee their safety due to ongoing military operations against Hamas.
- At least 32 journalists have been killed since the start of the conflict.
- The Israeli army has acknowledged the dangers but cites the proximity of journalists to military operations as a complicating factor.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Journalists often face extreme dangers in conflict zones, and international laws exist to protect them as civilians. The current Gaza conflict has seen unprecedented levels of violence against media personnel.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 90%