Since the start of its aggression against the Gaza Strip on October 7, the Israeli occupation authorities have systematically targeted Palestinian journalists, in a failed attempt to prevent them from covering war crimes and genocide against defenseless civilians.
The president of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS) based in Ramallah, Nasser Abu Baker, said that the Israeli occupation is systematically killing journalists and media professionals in the Gaza Strip, and may be preparing for a larger massacre against them.
Abu Bakr affirmed that 75 media professionals, including 65 journalists, were killed as of Thursday, while more than 140 others were injured.
He also pointed out that 65 media offices were bombed, while more than 1,200 journalists were displaced and sheltered in schools along with their families.
“We lose our colleagues and friends every day. They are not only numbers. They are humans, they are journalists, they are our friends, our colleagues,” he said.
Abu Bakr noted that journalists were now forced to go to the southern Rafah border crossing.
“They (the Israelis) try to gather them there. And we are afraid that there’s a plan by the Israeli army and the government to kill and prevent our journalists from covering war crimes and genocide against our people in Gaza,” Abu Baker explained.
For the 63rd consecutive day, the Israeli occupation’s massive carnage continues to claim more lives in the Gaza Strip as its army persists in bombing homes and buildings and targeting civilians.
The death toll from Israeli bombardments in the Gaza Strip has risen to over 17,177 victims, 70% of whom are children and women.
The Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip constitutes a blatant violation of international humanitarian and human rights law as it exposes civilians’ lives to extreme danger, which requires immediate international intervention.
The international community must force the Israeli occupation forces to abide by international human rights and humanitarian laws, mainly protecting the rights and lives of civilians, prohibiting their targeting and preserving their safety, and holding the Israeli leaders accountable for committing war crimes in the Gaza Strip.
