The UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression has issued a strong condemnation of an Israeli airstrike that resulted in the deaths of two Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza. The report, released on Tuesday, denounces the attack as a deliberate assault on media freedom and a grave violation of international law.
The airstrike, which occurred on Wednesday near the residence of Hamas's late political bureau head Ismail Haniyeh in the Alshati refugee camp west of Gaza City, claimed the lives of journalist Ismail Al-Ghul and cameraman Rami Al-Rifi. According to the UN Special Rapporteur, Al-Ghul was clearly identified as a journalist, wearing a press vest at the time of the attack.
This incident marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, with the death of these media professionals highlighting the increasing dangers faced by journalists operating in conflict zones. The UN Special Rapporteur has emphasized that such targeted attacks undermine the principles of journalistic freedom and are in direct contravention of international humanitarian standards designed to protect civilian and media personnel during armed conflicts.
Since the beginning of the intensified conflict on October 7, 2023, official statistics report that at least 165 journalists have been killed in Gaza. The latest casualties underscore the perilous conditions under which media professionals are working in the region, as they strive to provide coverage amid escalating violence.
The international community continues to grapple with the implications of these attacks on press freedom and the broader human rights situation in Gaza. The UN Special Rapporteur's condemnation adds to a growing chorus of voices calling for accountability and the protection of journalists in conflict zones.
