On Thursday, 25 July 2025, the Arab Organisation for Human Rights in the UK (AOHR UK) organised a compelling webinar titled “Reporting from the Frontlines: The Deadly Reality for Gaza Journalists Amidst Genocide.” The event brought together prominent voices from the fields of journalism, activism, and academia to shed light on the severe dangers faced by journalists and civilians in Gaza and the West Bank. Speakers included Dr. Noa Shaindlinger, Bill Law, Lisa Adhikari, Jedda Sparks, Vivi Chen, David Hummel, and Aidan White. Each provided harrowing accounts and critical analyses of the ongoing genocide, underscoring the urgent need for international attention and action.
Bill Law, the editor of Arab Digest, opened his speech by reflecting on the escalating dangers faced by journalists in the region. He highlighted the shocking statistic that 170 journalists have been killed by Israeli forces, an unprecedented number. Law pointed to the assassination of Shireen Abu Akleh, an American-Palestinian journalist, shot by an Israeli sniper over two years ago, and criticised the Israeli authorities’ downplaying of this targeted killing as an unfortunate error. He asserted that the deliberate targeting of journalists and civilians, including children, by Israeli snipers was a systematic attempt to destroy records of the genocide.
Law emphasised the importance of preserving these records and commended the courage of journalists who continue to document atrocities despite the risks. He called for the creation of indestructible archives to be presented before international courts and public opinion, stressing the powerful influence of the Israeli lobby, particularly in the UK, where the new government continued to support Netanyahu. Law highlighted the recent political shifts in the UK, where pro-Palestinian votes led to significant electoral outcomes, offering a glimmer of hope.
Concluding his speech, Law expressed his admiration for the bravery of journalists on the ground and called for continuous recording, protesting, and demanding justice. He underscored the critical role of international support and activism in addressing the ongoing genocide and ensuring that the voices of the oppressed are heard.
At the beginning of her contribution, Dr. Noa Shaindlinger drew attention to the reinforced windows in Palestinian homes as a defence against settler attacks. She also criticised the US Congress for welcoming Netanyahu despite his imminent war crime charges and highlighted the suppression of First Amendment rights in the US, targeting pro-Palestine activists in academia. Shaindlinger noted the biased media coverage of the Gaza genocide and the disregard for Palestinian journalists who have been killed.
She emphasised the disconnect between public opinion, where most Americans opposed arms shipments to Israel, and the actions of the US government. Shaindlinger stressed the importance of grassroots activism and the role of young activists in the West Bank. She called for accountability and expressed hope that rising public dissent would lead to significant changes.
Shaindlinger concluded by praising the courage of young activists and highlighting the critical role of grassroots movements in driving change. She called for continued efforts to raise awareness and pressure governments to uphold international law and human rights.
In his speech, Aidan White, founder and president of the Ethical Journalism Network, emphasised the critical need to defend international humanitarian law and support journalists in Gaza and the Middle East. He highlighted the alarming toll of almost 40,000 deaths, including many women and children, and the unprecedented killing of around 150–160 journalists in the war. White condemned Israel’s actions, which have undermined international legal protections and democracy, calling for stronger protections for journalists and the enforcement of international laws.
White praised countries like South Africa, Norway, Spain, and Ireland for taking a stand against Israel’s actions but insisted more global action is needed. He stressed the importance of supporting independent media and ensuring journalists’ safety, as human rights and independent journalism are essential pillars of democracy.
In his final remarks, White emphasised the interdependence of human rights and independent journalism, asserting that both are crucial for the survival of democracy. He called for immediate and sustained support for journalists on the ground and stressed the importance of holding Israel accountable for its violations of international law. White concluded by highlighting the need for robust international mechanisms to penalise governments that defy and cynically break international law, ensuring the protection and promotion of truth-telling in conflict zones.
The Activist David Hummel, recounted a harrowing incident in Qusra, where he and other international activists accompanied a Palestinian farmer to his olive fields, which had been inaccessible since October. They faced an unprovoked attack by settlers from one of the illegal settlements who wielded wooden batons and metal rods. Hummel and others, including women and mothers, were assaulted, resulting in multiple injuries. He detailed the settlers’ aggression and the subsequent encounter with the Israeli army, who fired live ammunition at local Palestinians and ignored the activists’ pleas for intervention.
Hummel highlighted the constant danger Palestinians face daily, far worse than the violence experienced by internationals. He emphasised the complicity of the Israeli army in settler violence and the systemic oppression that Palestinians endure. The settlers’ actions, supported by the army, demonstrated the unequal power dynamics and the impunity with which they operate.
In conclusion, Hummel stressed the importance of international solidarity and the need for continuous documentation of these atrocities. He called for greater awareness and action from the global community to support Palestinians and hold Israel accountable for its actions.
Jedda Sparks shared her firsthand experience of the violence and intimidation faced by Palestinian farmers. She described how settlers frequently uproot ancient olive trees and replant them in settlements, symbolising the theft of Palestinian heritage. Sparks recounted a specific incident where she and other activists accompanied a Palestinian woman to her farm, only to find the plants she had tended for decades burned and poisoned. This woman, who had worked on the farm for 50 years, was in tears over the destruction of her life’s work.
Sparks detailed a violent encounter where settlers attacked her group with metal rods and wooden batons. She was shoved off a hill, sustaining injuries while trying to protect herself. She described how settlers targeted everyone indiscriminately, including women and mothers, and how the Israeli army exacerbated the situation by pointing guns at Palestinians and firing live ammunition. Sparks emphasised the daily harassment and psychological warfare Palestinians face, including children who are often targeted with tear gas and sound grenades in their schools.
In conclusion, Sparks called for greater international solidarity and action to support Palestinians. She stressed the importance of documenting these atrocities and urged the global community to take action to hold Israel accountable for its actions.
Lisa Adhikari reported from Bethlehem, sharing the profound impact of fear and trauma on Palestinian children. She described how children are afraid to play in playgrounds due to the threat of live ammunition from soldiers. Adhikari recounted a harrowing experience where settlers threatened to kill children attending a wedding, highlighting the psychological warfare aimed at disrupting ordinary life events.
Adhikari also shared the story of meeting with women in Qusra who were concerned about helping their children cope with trauma. She described the terrifying control the Israeli army has over Palestinian villages, where gates can be closed off, isolating the towns. Adhikari recounted how a group of young children, on their way to a wedding, were threatened by a settler who stopped his car and told them he would kill them.
She highlighted the coexistence of different religions in Palestine, contrasting it with the divisive and weaponised use of religion in US politics. Adhikari condemned the US government’s complicity in the genocide and expressed gratitude for the hospitality of the Palestinian people. She reflected on the enduring suffering of Palestinians and the moral imperative to oppose such crimes against humanity.
Lisa Adhikari also shared her personal experience of violence from Israeli settlers, showing the severe bruises on her arm as a result.
Adhikari concluded by sharing her deep emotional connection to the people of Palestine and the heartbreak of leaving them. She called for continued international support and action to address the ongoing genocide and uphold human rights and justice.
Vivi Chen recounted the rapid escalation of violence during a recent settler attack. She described how a group of international activists, mostly women, were assaulted by settler boys armed with batons and metal rods. Chen herself sustained significant injuries, with severe swelling on her arms from the attacks. She highlighted the settlers’ deliberate attempts to avoid being filmed and their impunity supported by the Israeli army.
Chen described the settlers’ unprovoked attack on Palestinian farmers, who were simply tending to their land. She detailed how the settlers arrived in a Jeep, circled the group, and then launched a violent assault. Chen was particularly struck by the immediate escalation to physical violence, despite the activists posing no threat and being armed only with phones and cameras.
Chen criticised the unequal power dynamics, where settlers attacked unarmed Palestinian farmers while the Israeli army exacerbated the situation by arriving with the head settler and pointing guns at Palestinians. She condemned the portrayal of the situation as an equal war, emphasising the systemic oppression faced by Palestinians. Chen recounted how the Israeli army cursed at them, ignored their pleas for help, and treated them as criminals despite their peaceful intentions.
In conclusion, Chen called for greater awareness and action from the global community to support Palestinians and hold Israel accountable for its actions. She stressed the importance of continuous documentation and reporting to ensure that the truth is told, and justice is pursued.
