The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers intends to present the prestigious "Golden Pen" Award for Press Freedom next Monday, dedicating this honor to photographers and video journalists working in the Gaza Strip. This decision comes in recognition of their exceptional efforts in documenting the ongoing war, where they risked their lives to convey the truth from the heart of the field amidst extremely harsh humanitarian conditions.
The Association affirmed in its statement that journalistic teams in the Strip have experienced unprecedented levels of death, destruction, and human suffering for over two and a half years. It stressed that these professionals have not only acted as historians of the war but have themselves become victims of this bloody conflict that continues to cast its shadow over the region since its outbreak.
The Association addressed the obstacles imposed by Israeli authorities, noting the continued prevention of foreign journalists from entering the Gaza Strip since the beginning of military operations. It clarified that entry was limited to only a few dozen reporters who were allowed brief and restricted visits under military escort from the Israeli army, which placed the greater burden of coverage on local journalists.
The award ceremony is scheduled to take place in the coastal city of Marseille in southern France, where representatives of major international news agencies such as Agence France-Presse, Associated Press, and Reuters will be honored. Among those honored will be photographer Mohammed Abd, in recognition of his role and that of his colleagues in maintaining the flow of information and images from within the besieged areas.
The recognition is not limited to the living but extends to colleagues who have been injured or martyred while performing their professional duties since October 2023. This step coincides with the launch of the 77th World News Media Congress, organized by the Association in cooperation with major international media arms to discuss the challenges of journalism in conflict zones.
Statistics issued by international organizations, including Reporters Without Borders, indicate that more than 220 journalists have been killed by Israeli army fire in Gaza, including at least 70 journalists who were directly targeted while carrying out their fieldwork. These figures highlight the grave risks faced by media personnel in their endeavor to convey the Palestinian narrative to the world.
On the general humanitarian front, medical sources in the Gaza Strip reported that the death toll has exceeded 72,800 Palestinians since the start of the aggression, with more than 900 martyrs recorded since the announcement of the last ceasefire in October 2025. These data confirm the continued bloodshed in the Strip despite international attempts at de-escalation, which multiplies the importance of the role played by journalists in documenting these violations.
Journalists in Gaza are victims of the conflict as much as they are historians of a war that erupted and continues around them.
שתף את דעתך
International Recognition for Gaza Journalists with "Golden Pen" Award in Appreciation of Their Courage in Documenting the War