Since October 7, 2023, Palestine has been witnessing an ongoing tragic situation. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), which represents more than 600,000 journalists in 150 countries, documented the deaths of 138 journalists in 2023. Among them were 127 Palestinian journalists, 5 in Lebanon, 4 in Israel, and 1 in Syria, marking the largest loss in journalism history.
In comparison, the conflict between Ukraine and Russia led to the deaths of 18 journalists over a span of 32 months. Investigations by the IFJ, in collaboration with the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, revealed that since October 2023, the Israeli military has deliberately targeted many journalists, in clear violation of international law. In response, the IFJ has called for adherence to international humanitarian laws, but to no avail.
The war on Gaza, which has spread to Lebanon, is the result of the policies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who disregards all international agreements. Despite his speeches at the United Nations, where he speaks about combating terrorism, multiple international reports — dating back to the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — confirm that indiscriminate attacks against terrorism are ineffective. Instead, they entrench extremism and create generations of resentful individuals who embrace hatred.
Since October 2023, the IFJ has intensified its appeals to the United Nations to call for a ceasefire, aiming to evacuate civilians from the Gaza Strip, which spans approximately 365 square kilometers, roughly a third of Paris’ surface area. They also called for urgent humanitarian aid and the protection of journalists working on the ground.
However, all these efforts have failed, despite the continuous efforts of UN Secretary-General António Guterres. On the contrary, Israel has been ordered to continue its strikes and military operations, with significant funding from the United States (68%) and Germany (30%).
Dehumanization
Regarding media coverage in the wake of the deadly attack by Hamas in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people, the IFJ called for careful fact-checking in light of the spread of “fake news,” such as claims of “decapitated children.” Debates within newsrooms intensified, with accusations of bias either toward the Palestinian cause or toward Israel, leading to self-censorship in media coverage and the complete dehumanization of Palestinians in many reports.
In the absence of reliable external sources, social media platforms have become the only means for journalists in Gaza to share their daily suffering with the world, despite the risks and lack of essential equipment.
On the Israeli side, the media tends to support military operations against Palestinians. One Israeli journalist told AFP in an interview that she works to support Israeli forces “protecting the country from despicable terrorists and the massacres they committed.” Is it self-censorship or propaganda? Despite the censorship and pressure, some journalists, fortunately, continue to perform their duties with high professionalism, reporting the truth from Gaza based on careful verification from official sources on both sides.
Centers of Media Solidarity
In response to the tragic situation in Gaza, the IFJ, in cooperation with the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, has raised hundreds of thousands of euros to support Palestinian journalists. The first media solidarity center was opened in July 2023 in the southern Gaza Strip, specifically in Khan Younis. Although the number of centers is limited, they play a crucial role in providing protection and support to journalists working in the region.
As the first anniversary of the attack approaches, it is clear that the war on Gaza has exceeded the United Nations’ ability to manage it, much like World War II overwhelmed the League of Nations in 1946.
The UN Security Council is paralyzed, unable to confront Netanyahu’s government, which acts without fear of accountability and enjoys impunity. When the dust of war settles, the international community — if such a divided “international community” still exists — will be seen as having failed to fulfill its responsibilities. Decisive steps must be taken now before the situation deteriorates further. If international justice fulfills its role, Israeli leaders must be held accountable for the war crimes and crimes against humanity they have committed. No one who colluded with or supported these crimes should escape accountability.
“Except for the support of our brothers and sisters in the IFJ, we no longer expect anything from anyone. We have lost so much, and we have nothing left to lose, not even our lives. ‘If there is hell, we are living it now. It’s a real massacre, hard to believe,'” said a Palestinian journalist in Gaza in September 2023.
