Press bodies condemn killing of journalists in Gaza

Leading journalist associations in India have strongly condemned what they described as the “systematic killing” of journalists in Gaza by Israeli forces, and urged the global community to set up an international tribunal to hold Israel accountable.

In a joint statement, the Press Club of India and the Indian Women Press Corps said: “We express strongest condemnation of targeted killing of journalists by Israel in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The latest case in point is the senseless bombing of the Nasser Hospital, in which, at least five journalists were killed.”

The statement noted that “since the start of the current conflict in Gaza, perpetuated by the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israeli citizens by Hamas, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has systematically killed 240 journalists.”

Calling the actions of the IDF a “grave violation” of international conventions, the journalist bodies highlighted Rule 34 of the International Committee of the Red Cross, which recognizes journalists as civilians during conflict. “The impunity with which IDF has carried out these targeted killings of journalists on duty by branding them as combatants must be condemned in the strongest possible words, and punished accordingly,” the statement said.

The organizations further alleged that Israel’s actions were aimed at silencing media coverage of the war. “It is clear that by killing journalists, Israel does not want the world to see the brutality and grave systemic human rights violations that it has unleashed on the civilians of Gaza for close to two years.”

The statement endorsed calls by international media bodies, including the Berlin Press Club, Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia, Overseas Press Club of America, Press Club Concordia, and Press Club Polska, for the creation of an international tribunal to probe violations of global conventions protecting journalists.

“Israel must be held to account for killing journalists,” the press bodies declared.

The statement was signed by Neeraj Thakur, Secretary General of the Press Club of India, Gautam Lahiri, President of the Press Club of India, Sujata Raghvan, President of the Indian Women Press Corps, and Aditi Behl, General Secretary of the Indian Women Press Corps.