Global journalist group says Israel-Hamas conflict is a war beyond compare for media deaths

The Israel-Hamas conflict has resulted in an alarming number of journalist and media worker casualties, with an average of one being killed each day. This situation has led the head of the International Federation of Journalists to characterize it as an unprecedented conflict in terms of media-related deaths. Since the conflict began on October 7, approximately 60 journalists and media workers have lost their lives. This number is already close to the total number of journalists killed during the entire Vietnam War, which occurred half a century ago. Notably, other conflicts in the Middle East, including those in Syria, Iraq, and ex-Yugoslavia, did not witness such a high number of journalist fatalities.

The casualties in this conflict are not limited to one side, as they include both Palestinian and Israeli journalists, along with some from Lebanon. The majority of these casualties occurred during Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip, but Israeli journalists were also killed during Hamas’ attack in southern Israel that triggered the war. The International Federation of Journalists compiled these statistics from various sources for its annual report.

In addition to the loss of life, many media organizations’ premises in Gaza have been destroyed, making it extremely challenging for journalists to carry out their work. It’s estimated that there were approximately 1,000 journalists and media workers in Gaza before the conflict, but now, due to the destruction and ongoing hostilities, they are effectively trapped there.

Despite these dire circumstances, local journalists in Gaza continue to fulfill their responsibilities, even though they have lost their homes and often lack basic necessities such as food and security. This dedication underscores the extraordinary challenges they face.

Efforts have been made to address these issues through diplomatic channels. However, as reported, there has been a lack of responsiveness from the Israeli government to calls for dialogue and cooperation to protect journalists. Israel has maintained that it takes measures to avoid civilian casualties and accuses Hamas of operating in residential areas, putting civilians at risk.

The International Federation of Journalists and Reporters Without Borders have called upon the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors to investigate the deaths of journalists and media workers in this conflict. The ICC’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, has visited the area, and the investigation will consider allegations of crimes committed during both the current war and the Israel-Hamas conflict in 2014. It’s worth noting that there are legal disputes regarding the ICC’s jurisdiction in this matter, with Israel arguing that it does not apply to the Palestinian territories due to questions of sovereignty.

In summary, the Israel-Hamas conflict has tragically resulted in a significant number of journalist and media worker deaths, posing a grave challenge to press freedom and safety in the region. Efforts are underway to address these issues through international channels, although complex legal questions surrounding jurisdiction remain unresolved.

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• International Federation of Journalists
• Reporters Without Borders
• International Criminal Court
• Israel-Hamas War Coverage