Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa stressed the pivotal role played by Palestinian journalists in exposing the crimes of the occupation and its plans for displacement and genocide, especially in light of the occupation’s prevention of Arab and foreign journalists from entering the Strip.

This came during his speech at the launch of the first international conference for the development of Palestinian media, which was opened today, Monday, in Ramallah, in the presence of the Governor of Ramallah and Al-Bireh, Laila Ghanem, the President of the International Federation of Journalists, Dominic Bradley, a number of members of the Federation, a number of members of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the Central Committee of the Fatah Movement, ministers, the General Supervisor of Official Media, Minister Ahmed Assaf, the President of the Journalists Syndicate, Nasser Abu Bakr, members of the Syndicate, representatives of media institutions and the diplomatic corps in Palestine, and a number of journalists.

Mustafa said: “Palestinian journalists have been brave in publishing the facts that the occupation tried to hide. They documented the killing of children, exposed the policy of deliberate starvation against civilians, the bombing and storming of hospitals, and then forced displacement to empty areas of the Strip.”

He added: "All these facts that condemn the occupation and hold it accountable were conveyed and documented by Palestinian journalists with courage and professionalism to various platforms, screens and international newspapers. If it were not for the loyalty and professionalism of the Palestinian journalist, the streets of the world would not have been filled with free people calling for a ceasefire, stopping the genocide and holding its perpetrators accountable."

The Prime Minister conveyed the greetings of President Mahmoud Abbas to the conference attendees, especially the guests, stressing his support for the efforts of the conference organizers and his wishes for its success.

Mustafa said: “We meet today with our eyes and hearts directed towards the beloved Gaza Strip, which is still suffering from a brutal war of extermination and bitter humanitarian conditions that have affected all its components, and at the heart of them are the journalists who conveyed the truth, our story and our tragedy to the world.”

The Prime Minister explained: “The press community has offered its best sons as a price for the truth, as we have lost the largest number of journalist victims who fell in a single war since World War II, and by their continued assassination, the occupation is trying to complete what it started; to assassinate the truth.”

Mustafa added: "As we list the achievements of the Palestinian press and its role, we appreciate the role played by the esteemed Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, in cooperation with the International Federation of Journalists, in documenting the occupation's crimes against journalists, to hold accountable those responsible for targeting them, and to support the brave journalists of Gaza."

The Prime Minister called on all national and international institutions and bodies, and all those who believe in freedom, to intensify pressure to provide international protection for Palestinian journalists, and not to leave them vulnerable to abuse and assassination, stressing that this role is our collective responsibility, and is part of the efforts of our Palestinian diplomacy to defend all sectors of our people in international forums.

Mustafa pointed out that in the context of the international effort, it is necessary to recall some important political achievements, especially the UN General Assembly resolution, which is based on the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, as one of the most important UN resolutions calling for ending the occupation and removing its effects within a year.

The Prime Minister added: "This decision was followed by the launch of the international coalition to implement the two-state solution with the participation of 90 countries, and at the same time our diplomatic efforts continue, led by the President's efforts to gain more international recognition for the State of Palestine and to embody the independent Palestinian state with full sovereignty on the ground."

Mustafa added: "They say they want to...

Annexation, and we say that we will continue our efforts to embody the Palestinian state and remove the occupation. We are patient, and we will not tire or get bored in knocking on all doors and making every effort to achieve Palestinian rights.

He stressed that the government is putting all its capabilities to facilitate the work of journalists and ensure their continued performance of their professional and national duties, in the belief in the necessity of strengthening freedoms, especially freedom of the press and media, and its readiness to provide all possible support in order to make the message of the Palestinian media and its national mission a success.