Ceasefire in Gaza is a hopeful first step
Israel's war in Gaza is the deadliest for journalists ever. Journalists in Gaza have had to work under inhumane conditions for the past 15 months. They have been killed on an unprecedented scale and subject to targeted attacks by Israel. The ceasefire which began last Sunday ,is a hopeful first step, but much is still needed to ensure the safety of journalists and access to independent information. Time will tell what the ceasefire will concretely mean for the safety of journalists working in the region, and whether Israel is fulfilling its obligations under international law to protect journalists as citizens.
A survey by our partner Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ) of nearly 400 journalists who are currently in Gaza or have been working there in recent months, shows that 96% of journalists have been displaced; 92% have lost essential reporting equipment; 91% lack basic protection such as ballistic vests and helmets; and 60% live in tents. In addition, many journalists have been injured, or have lost family members and children.
The first priority is to provide relief to the humanitarian needs of the population, including journalists who are often themselves victims of the conflict. In addition, foreign journalists must be given unrestricted access to Gaza. Since the beginning of the war, independent media has been denied access to Gaza. This ban on foreign reporting has placed an impossible and unreasonable burden on local reporters to document a war they themselves are facing. This, combined with attacks on journalists, makes it increasingly difficult to get information out of Gaza. Earlier, along with 60 other media and civil society organisations, we called on Israel to allow journalists independent access to Gaza.
In addition, there must be independent investigations into the unprecedented number of journalists killed, at least 166 since 7 October 2023 (CPJ). The ongoing hostilities over the past 15 months have made it almost impossible to properly investigate the killings of journalists, limiting the possibilities for justice. Nevertheless, the current evidence already shows that Israel deliberately attacked journalists in several cases. Especially when there are indications that a journalist was targeted deliberately, it is crucial that evidence be professionally collected and secured as soon as possible. There must now be independent, effective and thorough investigations into these killings, in line with the UN Manual on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-Legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions (the Minnesota Protocol).
Especially in times of humanitarian crisis and war, access to independent and reliable information can be life-saving. Journalists therefore now play a crucial role. It is essential that they are able to report on developments during the ceasefire and inform the population about the delivery of humanitarian aid. But their work is important not only for reporting on the current situation, but also for in-depth investigations into what has taken place in Gaza in recent times, including human rights violations and war crimes. Independent and accurate reporting contributes to transparency, accountability and ultimately justice for victims.
As Free Press Unlimited, we are in close contact with our partners to monitor and support the situation whenever possible. Preserving and restoring independent media and their resilience is what we focus on. We remain committed to advocating for the protection of journalists and access to reliable information.
