At the request of the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU), The World Broadcasting Union (WBU) condemned the ongoing targeting of journalists and media workers in Gaza in a statement issued on October 25, 2024. It called on media organizations worldwide to report the latest statistics regarding the number of these victims killed in Gaza.
The WBU emphasized the importance of holding accountable those who commit crimes against journalists and media professionals, reiterating its condemnation of Israel's refusal to allow international media covering events from Gaza. It also urged media organizations to clarify to their audiences that the deliberate targeting of journalists constitutes an obvious violation of international law.
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This statement follows a meeting of WBU members, including ASBU, held in Istanbul, Turkey, alongside the General Assembly of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU).
During this meeting, ASBU Director General, Engineer Abdelrahim Suleiman, highlighted the need for the WBU to issue a statement condemning the systematic Israeli targeting of truth and truth-tellers, reminding participants of ASBU’s steadfast position in defending press freedom and protecting journalists and media crews, especially in conflict and war zones. Eng. Suleiman also reminded that ASBU, as a professional institution, stands for journalists’ rights and fiercely denounces targeting them.
It is worth noting that ASBU has consistently decried the assaults carried out by Israeli occupation forces against journalists and media crews in Gaza, other Palestinian territories, and recently in Lebanon.
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The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that at least 128 journalists and media workers have been killed from October 7, 2023, making this period the deadliest since the CPJ began collecting data in 1992.
For its part, Reporters Without Borders (RWF) stated that over 130 Palestinian journalists in Gaza have been killed by Israeli occupation forces, while the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate confirmed that the death toll counts no less than 140.
In this context, the WBU praised the efforts of organizations that monitor, verify, and document attacks on media workers. They encouraged media organizations worldwide to publish and share their research to raise public awareness of the suffering faced by journalists in Gaza and around the globe. This initiative aims to highlight the dangers journalists encounter and to promote greater protection for their safety and rights.
A video capturing the Israeli Occupation attacks on journalists and media teams