DOHA: Doha Centre for Media Freedom (DCMF) strongly condemned Israel’s systematic and deliberate targeting of journalists, as the Israeli army proceeds with one of its fiercest aggression against the Gaza Strip for more than 29 days, causing the death of thousands of Palestinian civilians including 13 journalists working for different media organisations in occupied Gaza.
Those journalists were killed simply because they were doing their jobs, conveying to the world the heinous atrocities committed by Israeli aggression in the besieged Gaza Strip, DCMF said in a statement released yesterday.
In this regard, DCMF announced the adoption of an urgent international initiative to document and follow up such grave violations and crimes against the journalists as part of its advocacy strive that lays the framework of its mission and policy.
DCMF urged the United Nations and the Unesco to carry out their responsibilities in protecting journalists in Gaza and across Palestine and halt the flagrant breach of international laws and charters by Israel. According to the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it is imperative to protect journalists in conflict zones and necessitate their treatment as impartial parties.
Pressure should be exerted on Israel to differentiate between the civilian and military targets and for its forces to stop targeting journalists and media organisations in the Gaza Strip, especially after 13 journalists were killed and various media offices were also bombed since the start of the war on Gaza. These included attacks on Al Aqsa satellite channel and radio station, Al Jazeera’s office, Al Watan radio station and other media headquarters which were deliberately targeted by the Israeli forces.
DCMF reiterated its commitment to document these grave violations and will supply the UN, the UN Human Rights Council, the Unesco and regional organisations with a thorough report on the crimes committed by the Israeli army against journalists and media workers in Gaza.
DCMF pointed out that killing journalists and targeting media is a serious threat to freedom of opinion and expression guaranteed by the human rights international charters.
DCMF called on the international community to ensure and respect the rules of the 4th Geneva Convention on protection of civilians during wars and react when such laws are violated by the Israeli occupation forces.
QNA
