SANTIAGO, Friday, May 3, 2024 (WAFA) – The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has decided to award the Guillermo Cano Prize for Press Freedom this year to Palestinian journalists who covered the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.
Nasser Abu Bakr, the head of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, accepted the award from UNESCO Assistant Director-General Tawfik Jelassi and members of the UNESCO Prize Committee during a festival organized by the organization in the Chilean capital, Santiago, on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, which falls on May 3rd of every year.
In his speech, Abu Bakr described the event as historic and significant, emphasizing the significance of UNESCO granting the Press Freedom Award to Palestinian journalists who covered the Israeli aggression on Gaza.
He expressed a mixture of joy and pride combined with sadness for the loss of Palestinian journalism martyrs. He also emphasized determination and resolve to hold accountable and prosecute the criminals who killed these journalists, who revealed to the world the truth about Israeli occupation and its crimes against the Palestinian people in Gaza.
Abu Bakr highlighted the resilience of Palestinian journalists in Gaza, who continue to be the voice of truth despite the challenges they face. He praised their commitment to documenting the tragedy that befell their people, emphasizing that they are witnesses to the truth and witnesses to the worst and largest massacre witnessed by the media in history.
He also addressed the ongoing restrictions imposed by Israel, preventing international journalists from entering the Gaza Strip for media coverage. Despite this, Gaza journalists continue to convey the aggression experienced by the region, which Abu Bakr described as the worst in human history.
Abu Bakr stressed that UNESCO's decision to award the Press Freedom Prize for 2024 to all Palestinian journalists who covered the aggression on Gaza sends a strong message from the organization that justice for journalists will be achieved. He called on the International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan to quickly initiate investigations into these crimes in order to implement United Nations resolutions, ensuring that the perpetrators do not escape punishment.
He concluded by expressing gratitude for the recognition of Palestinian journalists' efforts by UNESCO and the international community, despite the immense challenges and inhumane conditions they endure.
M.N
