GAZA, (PIC)
Once again, the Israeli occupation army, through its spokesperson Avichay Adraee, is inciting against Palestinian journalists covering the ongoing war of extermination in Gaza. The aim is to intimidate them and stop their coverage of the escalating crimes in the enclave.
Despite the fact that the Israeli war on Gaza has placed journalists in constant danger, facing threats of death and countless risks, turning them into people who carry their lives in their hands while reporting from the field, the occupation does not seem content. The war, now in its second year, has only intensified, yet the targeting of journalists continues.
In a disgraceful move, Adraee posted a photo of six Palestinian journalists from Gaza who work for Al Jazeera, labeling them as “terrorists working for Hamas and Islamic Jihad.” He supported his claims with baseless lies that no one would believe.
The six journalists, all working for Al Jazeera, are Anas Al-Sharif, Alaa Salama, injured journalist Ismail Abu Omar, Talal Al-Arouqi, Hassan Shabat, and Ashraf Al-Sarraj.
Psychological assassination and preparation for killing
The Government Media Office (GMO) condemned the Israeli army’s incitement against Palestinian journalists, calling it an attempt to “assassinate them morally by spreading false information.” It urged journalist unions and organizations to protect them.
In a statement released a couple of days ago, the Office said that the Israeli army is directly inciting against Palestinian journalists as a prelude to committing further crimes against them. It aims to morally assassinate them by spreading false narratives and misleading the public, trying to demonize them as part of its attack on the media sector.
The statement emphasized that these fabricated narratives are attempts to silence the truth and justify ongoing crimes against civilians, children, women, and the elderly. The occupation’s efforts are meant to suppress the Palestinian narrative, which has successfully exposed the lies of the Israeli narrative.
The GMO pointed out that the Israeli narrative was discredited when it falsely portrayed a group of Palestinian journalists, some as young as 15 years old, as leaders of the resistance. This clearly demonstrates the absurdity of their claims.
The Office called on journalists’ unions, local and international media organizations, to condemn the crimes against journalists and reject the incitement campaign against Palestinian media workers. It also called for providing protection for them.
The statement held the Israeli occupation and the U.S. administration fully responsible for the lives of these journalists, urging all free nations to pressure Israel to stop targeting journalists and end the war of genocide against civilians.
Media warnings
Several Palestinian media institutions warned of this Israeli incitement, emphasizing that it is part of a systematic attack on media coverage of the ongoing war in Gaza.
The Palestinian Journalists Forum expressed concern over the incitement against Al Jazeera reporters in Gaza, warning of the consequences of targeting them. The Forum expressed solidarity with the journalists and called on international institutions to take action against Israeli intimidation of Palestinian media workers.
It also highlighted that the Israeli accusations come in response to the tireless efforts of these journalists to expose the Israeli crimes in Gaza. It sees these accusations as a desperate attempt to silence them from fulfilling their national and professional duty.
Attempts to silence the media
The Palestinian Journalists Protection Center described the Israeli incitement as a new attempt to silence the few remaining journalists in northern Gaza and hide the atrocities being committed there.
In a statement on Thursday, the Center warned that these false claims could be used as a pretext for targeting the journalists, noting that Israel has already killed 177 journalists and media workers since the war began over a year ago.
The Center reminded that under international humanitarian law, civilian journalists reporting on armed conflicts must be respected and protected from deliberate attacks. Journalists are entitled to the same protection as civilians as long as they do not directly participate in hostilities.
Not a new phenomenon: Facts and figures
According to GMO data, the number of journalists killed since October 7 last year has risen to 177. Al Jazeera journalists, including the six targeted by this recent incitement, have paid a high price for their determination to continue covering the Israeli crimes.
On December 15, 2023, Al Jazeera correspondent Samer Abu Duqqa was killed, and Wael Dahdouh, another Al Jazeera correspondent, was injured by shrapnel from an airstrike in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza.
On January 7, 2024, Al Jazeera journalists Hamza Wael Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuraya were killed in an airstrike targeting their car during coverage in Khan Yunis.
On February 13, 2024, Al Jazeera correspondent Ismail Abu Omar was injured by a drone strike in Rafah, southern Gaza.
On July 31, 2024, Al Jazeera correspondent Ismail Al-Ghoul and cameraman Rami Al-Rifi were killed in an Israeli airstrike that targeted their vehicle in Gaza City.
On October 9, 2024, Al Jazeera cameraman Fadi Al-Wahidi was shot in the neck by Israeli forces while covering the ongoing genocide in northern Gaza.
Israel has not only targeted journalists but also their families. On December 11, 2024, the Israeli army bombed the home of journalist Anas Al-Sharif, killing his father. In October 2023, journalist Wael Dahdouh lost his wife, son, daughter, and granddaughter in an airstrike on a house they had fled to in central Gaza. Weeks later, Wael himself was injured and later faced the loss of his eldest son Hamza.
Coverage continues
Despite the incitement and the potential danger it poses, the six targeted journalists continue to cover the war on Gaza with unwavering professionalism, regularly appearing on Al Jazeera.
Looking at the history of Palestinian journalism, the Israeli attempts to suppress the truth and silence the media have consistently failed. The Palestinian narrative, much like the legitimacy of their cause, remains resilient and powerful, ensuring that the truth cannot be silenced.
