The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) has strongly condemned what it described as the “relentless killing and abuses” of journalists and media workers in Gaza by the Israeli military.
In a statement on Friday, the regional body of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said it was horrified by the scale of attacks allegedly carried out by Israeli forces, lamenting that more than 221 Palestinian journalists and media workers have so far been killed in the ongoing conflict.
“We mourn our fallen colleagues, we recognise the trauma carried by victim journalists and we send our heartfelt solidarity to the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS), whose members continue to report in fear and grief,” FAJ said.
The organisation described the situation as a “pattern of violations with few parallels in recent history,” alleging that journalists have been killed either while on duty or at home with their families. It added that media offices, radio stations and press vehicles have been struck, while others were denied medical care, detained incommunicado or forced to work without protective equipment.
“These abuses are grave breaches of international humanitarian and human rights law,” the group stated, insisting that Israeli forces must protect journalists and civilians, refrain from targeting the media, and take active steps to prevent further harm.
FAJ stressed that every attack on a journalist must be subjected to a “full, independent and public investigation that leads to prosecutions of those responsible.” It also demanded the release of detained journalists and urgent measures to guarantee safe reporting conditions, including protective equipment, evacuation arrangements and stable communications.
Reaffirming its solidarity with the PJS, which still has about 800 members in Gaza, FAJ pledged to continue amplifying the voices of Palestinian journalists across the world. The body also urged support for the IFJ’s International Safety Fund, which provides assistance to journalists affected by conflict.
“To governments, continental organisations, regional bodies and UN agencies, our message is clear: act now to protect Palestinian journalists, safeguard media infrastructure and uphold the public’s right to know. Facilitate access for independent media and humanitarian actors. Ensure that investigations lead to justice, not closed files,” FAJ appealed.
The organisation further called on states to adopt a new international convention on the protection of journalists, as proposed by the IFJ, to deliver binding guarantees for their safety and independence.
Declaratively, FAJ concluded: “African journalists will not look away. And we urge the world not to look away either.”
