The international community must assume its responsibilities in Gaza

Since October 7, 2023, Palestine has been witnessing an ongoing tragic situation, as the International Federation of Journalists - which represents more than 600,000 journalists in 150 countries - documented the killing of 138 journalists during the year 2023, including 127 Palestinian journalists, Lebanon (5), Israel (4) and Syria (1), which is the largest loss in the history of journalism.

By comparison, the conflict between Ukraine and Russia has killed 18 journalists in 32 months. Investigations by the International Federation of Journalists, in cooperation with the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, have shown that the Israeli army has deliberately targeted many journalists since October 2023, in clear violation of international law.

In this context, the International Federation of Journalists called for the need to respect international humanitarian laws, but to no avail.

The war on Gaza, which has spread to Lebanon, is the result of the policies of the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who ignores all international agreements. Despite his presence at the United Nations speaking about the fight against terrorism, multiple international reports - since the US-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan - confirm that indiscriminate attacks against terrorism are not effective, but rather lead to the consolidation of extremism and the creation of angry generations that embrace hatred. Since October 2023, the International Federation of Journalists has intensified its calls to the United Nations to sign a ceasefire.

Since October 2023, the International Federation has intensified its calls to the United Nations for a ceasefire.

In order to evacuate civilians from the Gaza Strip, which covers an area of about 365 square kilometers, roughly equivalent to a third of the surface area of Paris, and to provide urgent humanitarian aid, as well as to provide protection for journalists working in the field, all these efforts have failed, despite the continuous efforts of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres. On the contrary, Israel has ordered the continuation of its strikes and military operations, with significant funding from the United States of America (68%) and Germany (30%).

dehumanization

In this regard, the International Federation of Journalists called for careful fact-checking regarding media coverage in the wake of the deadly Hamas attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed more than 1,200 people, in light of the spread of “fake news”, such as allegations of “beheaded children”. Debates have intensified within newsrooms, between those accused of supporting the Palestinian cause and others accused of bias towards Israel, leading to self-censorship of media coverage, and the complete dehumanization of Palestinians in many reports. In the absence of reliable sources from abroad, social media platforms have become the only means for journalists in Gaza to inform the world of their daily suffering, despite the risks and lack of basic equipment. On the Israeli side, there is a trend for the media to support military operations against the Palestinians, with one Israeli journalist stating, in an interview with Agence France-Presse, that she works to support the Israeli forces “who protect the country from the despicable terrorists and the massacres they have committed”. Self-censorship or propaganda? Despite the censorship and pressures, fortunately some journalists are still performing their duties with high professionalism, and conveying the truth from Gaza, relying on careful verification from official sources on both sides.

Media Solidarity Centers

In response to the tragic situation in Gaza, the International Federation of Journalists, in cooperation with the Syndicate of Journalists and the Palestinians, raised hundreds of thousands of euros to support Palestinian journalists and the first solidarity center for journalists was opened in July 2023, in the southern Gaza Strip, specifically in Khan Yunis.

Despite the limited number of centres, they play a fundamental role in providing protection and support to journalists working in the sector.

As the first anniversary of the attack approaches, it is clear that the war on Gaza has outpaced the UN’s ability to deal with it, as World War II was to the League of Nations in 1946. The UN Security Council is paralyzed, unable to confront the Netanyahu government, which operates with impunity and fear of accountability. When the dust settles, the international community – if there is such a divided “international community” – will be seen as having failed to live up to its responsibilities and must take decisive action now before the situation deteriorates further. If international justice is to do its job, the leaders of Israel and Hamas must be held accountable for their war crimes and crimes against humanity, and those who complicit or support these crimes must not be exempt from accountability.

“Except for the support of our sisters and brothers in the International Federation of Journalists, 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 a hell, we are living it now. It is a real massacre, it is hard to believe,” said a Palestinian journalist in Gaza last September.

* An article published in several international media outlets, including the French newspaper L'Humanité and the Swiss newspaper Le Courrier.