Targeting Journalists in Gaza: A Systematic War Crime Threatening Global Press Freedom

The systematic targeting of journalists in Gaza constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, specifically Article 79 of the First Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, which grants special protection to civilian journalists during armed conflicts. This approach goes beyond individual breaches and amounts to a war crime, warranting accountability before the International Criminal Court.

The number of journalist martyrs has reached 238, the most recent being the attack on a journalists’ tent near Al-Shifa Hospital, where several colleagues lost their lives, including Al Jazeera correspondents Mohammed Al-Khalidi and Anas Al-Sharif, among others. These events reflect a deliberate strategy by the Israeli occupation to suppress field reporting and impose a comprehensive media blackout aimed at absolute control over the international narrative. The continuation of this targeting pattern undermines press freedom globally and sets a dangerous precedent threatening the safety of journalists in all conflict zones