Over 10, 000 people with an estimated 33 journalists have died during the Gaza-Israel conflicts, fueling concerns among media right campaigners on the fate of the affected purveyors-whose sole crime is to right the war.
The Centre for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ) estimates 33 journalists are among the more than 10,000 that have been killed in the skirmishes between the two avowed enemies since the war began on 7 October-claiming various civilians including refugees.
According to reports an estimated 8,935 Palestinian deaths involving civilians in Gaza and the West Bank and 1,400 deaths in Israel have been recorded since Hamas launched its unprecedented attack against Israel on October 7.
Israel retaliated and also declared Gaza war on the militant Palestinian group, launching strikes on the blockaded Gaza Strip. The development has since enveloped various communities including civilians in refugee camps, where respect for human rights has collapsed as people get maimed day on end.
The CPJ and Zambia based-press freedom defender-Free Press Initiative (FPI) in separate statements have poured scorn over the ceaseless war between the two countries and are demanding for the rights of the press to be upheld.
CPJ is investigating all reports of journalists and media workers killed, injured, detained, or missing in the war, including those hurt as hostilities spread to neighboring Lebanon.
According to CPJ findings, 33 journalists and media workers were recently confirmed dead: 28 Palestinian, 4 Israeli, and 1 Lebanese have all been victims.
An additional 8 journalists were reported injured with 9 journalists reported missing or detained. This has been compounded by continued attacks, arrests, threats, censorship and killings of family members.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) recently warned in a response to CPJ that it was unable to guarantee safety to media personnel caught in the “think of things” while operating in the Gaza Strip. This was after the watchdog had sought assurances on the safety of the news personnel as they covered the war.
“The IDF is targeting all Hamas military activity throughout Gaza,” the IDF letter said, adding that Hamas deliberately put military operations “in the vicinity of journalists and civilians … we cannot guarantee your employees’ safety, and strongly urge you to take all necessary measures for their safety.”
Journalists in Gaza face particularly high risks as they try to cover the conflict in the face of an Israeli ground assault on Gaza City, devastating Israeli airstrikes, disrupted communications, and extensive power outages.
Sherif Mansour, CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa program coordinator says CPJ is investigating numerous unconfirmed reports’’ of other journalists being killed, missing, detained, hurt, or threatened, and of damage to media offices and journalists’ homes, an affront to liberties of the media.
“CPJ emphasizes that journalists are civilians doing important work during times of crisis and must not be targeted by warring parties,”
“Journalists across the region are making great sacrifices to cover this heart-breaking conflict. Those in Gaza, in particular, have paid, and continue to pay, an unprecedented toll and face exponential threats. Many have lost colleagues, families, and media facilities, and have fled seeking safety when there is no safe haven or exit.”
And FPI-a Zambia-based media right campaigner frowns at the at the ceaseless injustices being slapped on the media and calls for protect the practitioners rights in pursuit of their jobs as “mirrors of society”
FPI Executive Director, Joan Chirwa, speaking on the commemoration of the year’s International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists throwing the organisation’s unflinching support of press freedom, accountability, and justice for journalists worldwide, Zambia included.
International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists remains cardinal in the media calendar. The occasion remains practitioners and other like-minded partners on the essential role journalists play in upholding democracy and human rights, and the critical need to protect them from harm.
FPI empathises with the fate of the media practitioners ‘sandwiched’ in various conflict related situations globally, including those covering the Israel-Gaza and the Russia-Ukraine war-among others-all risking their lives amidst devastating airstrikes, disrupted communications, and extensive power outages.
These dedicated professionals were on the front lines, risking their lives to bring us the truth and document the unfolding events in a region marred by conflict. Thus, the parties involved in the war should not target them.” Chirwa said Thursday.
FPI challenges the warring parties in the Israel-Gaza conflict to safeguard the journalists, while investigating any attacks on media personnel, and hold those responsible accountable for their actions as journalists should be allowed to carry out their noble cause without fear for their lives. The international community must work together to ensure their protection.
In Zambia, FPI is disappointed at the escalating media rights abuses in the past months in various parts of the country involving cadres of the ruling party seemingly perpetuating the violence against scribes with impunity yet authorities tend to lend a deaf ear, flouting democratic tenets with impunity.
FPI demands unwavering support and protection of the media practitioners rights in their course of duty, while demanding that an independent press should remain unshaken as a right enshrined in the constitution at local and international level where media is a fourth estate and not ambiguous’’.
“In any functioning democracy, the safety of journalists must be of paramount importance. We therefore strongly condemn any act that threatens their lives or restricts their ability to report on crucial matters. “”said Chirwa.
“A free and independent press is the cornerstone of any functioning democracy, and when journalists are targeted or killed with impunity, it sends a chilling message that threatens the very foundations of a just and open society.”
On the commemoration to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, FPI calls for unwavering commitment by all players towards upholding the values of press freedom, transparency, and justice at home and worldwide and avert impunity.
“The attacks on our journalists in Zambia and tragic loss of journalists in Israel and Gaza reminds us that we have a long way to go in the fight against impunity for crimes against journalists.”
The police and justice systems should undertake thorough investigations on the abated criminal acts against the media and ensure prosecution of all crimes against journalists in line with commitments made by the United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists adopted in 2012.
With a collective effort, all can strive for a world where journalists can report without fear and where their sacrifices are honored with justice.
FPI renders unflinching support to media personalities engrossed in flimsy’ legal suits, advantaged by lopsided laws that perpetuate abuses and restrict free practice of journalism, such as criminal defamation, among others, clearly meant to cripple them and that FPI joins them in solidarity for their cause.
