BRUSSELS, May 16, 2018 (WAFA) – The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemned on Wednesday Israel’s use of lethal force against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip that has caused death and injury including among journalists.
Thirteen journalists covering protests in Gaza were injured on Monday when Israeli military opened fire on Palestinian protesters along the Gaza border killing 61 civilians and injuring over 2500 others.
The IFJ said it joins the Federation of Arab Journalists (FAJ) and the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS) “in strongly condemning the brutal and ongoing indiscriminate use of lethal force which has resulted in loss of life and serious injury to peaceful protesters and journalist covering protests.”
The PJS said Algerian TV cameraman Omar Hamdam, Etihat Press photojournalist Mohammed Wael Aldwaik, Reuter’s photojournalist Ahmed Zakkout, journalist Farhan Hashim Abu Hadayed, Al-Jazeera’s reporter Wael Dahdouh, journalist Abdullah Alshorbaji, Zain Media’s photojournalist Mohammeh Abu Dahrouh, Wafa Agency’s photographer Rafi Almaleh, and Fursan Al-Irada Radio’s reporter Nihad Fouad Abu Ghalyoun were among the injured journalists.
It called in a statement on the United Nations, its agencies and the international humanitarian organizations to provide protections for Palestinian journalists. The PJS also called for “meaningful implementation of the Security Council’s resolution no. 2222” on the protection of journalists.
In a resolution adopted unanimously at its Executive committee meeting held in Taipei, Taiwan, this week-end, the IFJ condemned the continuous attacks against Palestinian journalists and the killing of photojournalists Yasir Murtaja and Ahmad Abu Hussein this year, as well as the wounding of other journalists in Gaza.
“We strongly condemn this inadmissible targeting of journalists in Gaza by Israeli forces which is a major hindrance to freedom of the press, a pillar of democracy. Any democracy worthy of the name should commit to protecting journalists, no matter where they come from,” said IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger. “We hold the Israeli army and its reckless shooting responsible for the killing and injury of Palestinian journalists for which it must be held accountable.”
M.K.
