Doha, Qatar: The blood of our martyred journalists in Gaza has not yet dried before the Israeli occupation forces committed another crime against Al Jazeera cameraman Mohammed Salama, together with three other photojournalists, said Al Jazeera in a statement yesterday.
“Today, occupation forces killed our colleague, Mohammed Salama, Hossam Al-Masri, a photojournalist working for Reuters, photographer Mariam Abu Deqa, who worked for the Associated Press and Independent Arabia and photographer Mo’az Abu Taha.”
“This atrocity occurred during an attack on the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Yunis, resulting in the deaths over 20 civilians, including patients and members of the press without distinction between those under medical care and those holding cameras to document the crimes.
“With this latest crime, which claimed the life of Mohammed Salama, the number of Al Jazeera journalists killed by Israel in Gaza has reached ten, within a total that now exceeds 240 journalists killed in the Strip since October 2023. This war has resulted in unprecedented numbers in the targeting of journalists being targeted, making it the deadliest conflict for media professionals in modern history.”
Al Jazeera Media Network has condemned, in the strongest possible terms, this horrific crime committed by the Israeli occupation forces, who have directly targeted and assassinated journalists as part of a systematic campaign to silence the truth.
“The ongoing campaign by the Israeli occupation against journalists has violated all international norms and laws, amounting to war crimes under the Rome Statute and the Geneva Conventions, both of which strictly prohibit the deliberate targeting of civilians and journalists in conflict zones.”
Al Jazeera has asserted that Israel’s prevailing sense of impunity, along with its determination to silence journalists to conceal its continuing crimes in Gaza, including genocide and the famine devastating the Strip demonstrates a clear intent to bury the truth. Despite relentless targeting, Al Jazeera remains resolute in providing live coverage of the Israeli genocide in Gaza for the past 23 months, with occupation authorities barring international media outlets from entering to report on the war.
“These systematic crimes against journalists demand a robust response from the international community and all relevant governments. Urgent and effective measures are required to protect journalists, civilians, and the fundamental right to information. Those holding positions of global leadership have a moral and legal responsibility to end the deliberate killing of journalists, safeguard basic human rights, now facing alarming regression and deterioration and to uphold press freedom.”
