More than 30 news organisations have signed an open letter expressing solidarity with journalists working in Gaza and calling for their protection and freedom to report.
The letter, coordinated by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), was signed by global news agencies AFP, AP and Reuters, as well as other leading media outlets including the Guardian, the New York Times, BBC News and Israel’s Haaretz.
“For nearly five months, journalists and media workers in Gaza – overwhelmingly, the sole source of on-the-ground reporting from within the Palestinian territory – have been working in unprecedented conditions,” the letter said.
It noted that at least 89 journalists and media workers in Gaza have been killed in the war, according to the CPJ.
The Israel-Hamas war began after an unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel that resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures.
Israel’s military campaign has killed 30,035 people, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.
“Journalists are civilians and Israeli authorities must protect journalists as noncombatants according to international law,” said the letter, also signed by the Association for International Broadcasters and the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA).
“Those responsible for any violations of that longstanding protection should be held accountable,” the letter also said.
More organisations are welcome to participate, said Jodie Ginsberg, the chief executive of the CPJ.
“We felt that it was important that we show that the international journalism community stands in solidarity with our Palestinian colleagues,” Ginsberg said.
Israel is only mentioned once in the letter. While CPJ has advocated for more access for journalists in Gaza, the letter steered clear of that subject because it was important to focus on solidarity, Ginsberg said.
She would not comment on whether any news organisation contacted chose not to participate.