The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS) has issued a scathing condemnation of what it describes as a “systematic policy” by the Israeli military to target media personnel and their families, revealing harrowing statistics on the toll of the conflict on the press since October 7, 2023.
In a statement carried by the Wafa news agency, the PJS reported that at least 219 Palestinian journalists and media personnel have been killed in Israeli military operations. Among the dead are 30 female journalists, underscoring the indiscriminate nature of the violence against media workers, the organisation noted.
The press syndicate further stated that at least 430 journalists have been wounded in the conflict, while 685 family members of journalists have also lost their lives during the same period.
Describing the situation as “a grave violation of international law and the rights of the press,” the PJS accused Israel of deliberately attempting to silence Palestinian voices and suppress coverage of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
“Targeting journalists and their families is a clear attempt to stifle truth and prevent the world from witnessing the atrocities committed on the ground,” the PJS said in its statement.
The organisation also highlighted the extreme conditions under which journalists in Gaza are operating, revealing that at least 1,000 media workers are currently living in a state of repeated displacement, forced to flee from place to place as Israeli bombardments continue to devastate civilian areas.
The PJS has called on international human rights organisations, press freedom advocates, and global media bodies to take urgent action to protect journalists in Gaza and hold perpetrators accountable for what it terms “war crimes against the free press.”
The statement comes amid mounting international concern over the high number of civilian casualties in the conflict, with journalists and humanitarian workers increasingly finding themselves on the frontlines, both as witnesses and as victims.
No immediate response has been issued by Israeli authorities regarding the PJS’s claims. However, past statements from the Israeli military have denied intentionally targeting journalists and maintained that military operations are focused on neutralizing threats posed by armed groups operating within densely populated civilian areas.
As the war rages on, calls for an independent international investigation into the killings of journalists in Gaza are growing louder, with advocates stressing the need to safeguard press freedom and ensure accountability in times of conflict.
Written By Rodney Mbua
