The letter, coordinated by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) with the support of the World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), demonstrates strong and unified support for colleagues reporting from Gaza in the deadliest conflict for journalists ever documented.
“For nearly five months, journalists and media workers in Gaza – overwhelmingly, the sole source of on-the-ground reporting from within the Palestinian territory – have been working in unprecedented conditions,” the letter reads. “These journalists – on whom the international news media and the international community rely for information about the situation inside Gaza – continue to report despite grave personal risk.”
The letter reminds the international community that journalists are civilians and authorities must protect journalists as noncombatants, according to international law.
A total of at least 94 journalists have been killed in the Israel-Gaza war; the majority of them (89) were Palestinians killed by the Israeli military.
The signatories include outlets from Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, India, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Pakistan, the Philippines, Qatar, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Additional signatories are welcome. Contact CPJ to add your organisation, including name of signatory, title, and name of organisation.
Read the full letter:
We, the undersigned, stand united with Palestinian journalists in their call for safety, protection, and the freedom to report.
For nearly five months, journalists and media workers in Gaza – overwhelmingly, the sole source of on-the-ground reporting from within the Palestinian territory – have been working in unprecedented conditions: at least 89 have been killed in the war, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, more journalists than have ever been killed in a single country over an entire year.
These journalists – on whom the international news media and the international community rely for information about the situation inside Gaza – continue to report despite grave personal risk. They continue despite the loss of family, friends, and colleagues, the destruction of homes and offices, constant displacement, communications blackouts, and shortages of food and fuel.
Journalists are civilians and Israeli authorities must protect journalists as noncombatants according to international law. Those responsible for any violations of that longstanding protection should be held accountable. Attacks on journalists are also attacks on truth. We commit to championing the safety of journalists in Gaza, which is fundamental for the protection of press freedom everywhere.
Signatories:
Kim Godwin, president, ABC NEWS
Phil Chetwynd, global news director, Agence France-Presse
Hossam Kanafani, editor in chief, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed
Alaa al Ghatrevy, editor in chief, Al Masry Al Youm, Egypt
Ghassan Hajjar, managing editor, An-Nahar, Lebanon
Shiro Nakamura, president, The Asahi Shimbun, Japan
Julie Pace, executive editor, Associated Press
Simon Spanswick, chief executive, Association for International Broadcasters (AIB)
Deborah Turness, CEO, BBC News
Mark Thompson, chairman and CEO, CNN Worldwide
Daoud Kuttab, director general, Community Media Network, Jordan
Branko Brkic, editor in chief, Daily Maverick, South Africa
Alia Ibrahim, co-founder / CEO, Daraj, Lebanon
Mohamed Saad Abdel Hafiz, Egyptian Journalists Syndicate / managing editor, Al-Shorouk, Egypt
Roula Khalaf, editor, Financial Times, UK
Katharine Viner, editor in chief, The Guardian, UK
Aluf Benn, editor in chief, Haaretz
Geordie Grieg, editor in chief, The Independent, UK
Sandy Prieto-Romualdez, chairperson, Inquirer Group of Companies, The Philippines
Deirdre Veldon, managing director, former deputy editor, The Irish Times
Rachel Corp, chief executive, ITN, UK
Andrew Dagnell, editor, ITV News, UK
Terry Tang, interim executive editor, Los Angeles Times
Lara Bitar, editor in chief, The Public Source, Lebanon
Rameeza Nizami, managing director, Nawaiwaqt Group, Pakistan
Pamella Sittoni, group managing editor, Nation Media Group, Kenya
Rebecca Blumenstein, president, editorial, NBC News
David Remnick, editor, The New Yorker
AG Sulzberger, publisher, The New York Times
Martha Ramos, president, World Editors Forum / chief editorial officer, Organización Editorial Mexicana
Amalie Kestler, managing editor in chief, Politiken, Denmark
Hans Väre, editor in chief, Postimees Grupp, Estonia
Alan Rusbridger, editor, Prospect magazine, UK
Ritu Kapur, CEO, The Quint, India
Maria Ressa, CEO and Co-Founder, Rappler Inc.
Alessandra Galloni, editor in chief, Reuters
Nwabisa Makunga, editor in chief, The Sowetan, South Africa
Dirk Kurbjuweit, editor in chief, Der Spiegel
Wolfgang Krach, editor in chief, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Germany
Wafaa Haidar, director, Tele Liban, Lebanon
Fernando Belzunce, editorial director, Vocento, Spain
Assaad Maroun, chairman / general manager, Voice of Lebanon
Sally Buzbee, executive editor, The Washington Post
Vincent Peyrègne, CEO, World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA)
Download the open letter on journalists in Gaza here.
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