A media freedom group accuses Israel and Hamas of war crimes and reports deaths of 34 journalists

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An international media freedom organization has accused both Israel and Hamas of war crimes and reported the deaths of 34 journalists in the ongoing conflict. On Wednesday, Reporters Without Borders, also known by the French abbreviation RSF, issued a statement calling for an investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) into these journalist fatalities. The group had previously filed a complaint regarding eight Palestinian journalists who were allegedly killed during Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip, as well as an Israeli journalist who lost their life during a surprise Hamas attack in southern Israel.

Christophe Deloire, the director-general of RSF, emphasized the urgency of an ICC investigation, stating, “The scale, seriousness, and recurring nature of international crimes targeting journalists, particularly in Gaza, calls for a priority investigation by the ICC prosecutor.” RSF is headquartered in France and has previously filed complaints alleging war crimes against Palestinian journalists in Gaza, making this the third such complaint since 2018. Israel has stated that it makes every effort to avoid civilian casualties and has accused Hamas of putting civilians at risk by operating in residential areas.

The recent complaint also highlights the destruction of over 50 media outlets in Gaza, which the organization claims to be deliberate and total or partial. This destruction has occurred since Israel declared war against Hamas following the militant group’s October 7 incursion. Another media freedom organization, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), is also investigating reports of journalists being “killed, injured, detained, or missing” in the conflict, including in Lebanon. CPJ’s preliminary death toll stands at a minimum of 31 journalists and media workers. Sherif Mansour, the program coordinator for CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa region, stressed that journalists are civilians doing vital work during times of crisis and must not be targeted by warring parties.

The International Criminal Court’s prosecution office is already investigating the actions of Israeli and Palestinian authorities dating back to the 2014 Israel-Hamas war, and the probe can also consider allegations of crimes committed during the current conflict. During a recent visit to the Rafah border crossing, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan called on Israel to respect international law but stopped short of accusing the country of war crimes. He did, however, describe Hamas’ October 7 attack as a serious violation of international humanitarian law. Israel maintains that the ICC lacks jurisdiction in the conflict due to Palestine’s non-sovereign status and its non-membership in the court’s underlying treaty.

Furthermore, Reporters Without Borders reported that the strikes in southern Lebanon that targeted a group of journalists, resulting in the death of one journalist and injuries to six others on October 13, were intentional and that the journalists were clearly identified as members of the press. The organization based its preliminary conclusions on video evidence and witness testimonies.

You can read the full coverage of these events on Big Big News.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about War Crimes Allegations

More about War Crimes Allegations

• Reporters Without Borders
• International Criminal Court (ICC)
• Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
• Big Big News – Israel-Hamas War Coverage