AfroMedia Urges UN Action Over Killings of Journalists in Gaza
The African Initiative for Journalism and Media (AfroMedia) has strongly condemned what it describes as “systematic crimes” by the Israeli occupation against journalists and civilians in Gaza since 7 October 2023. The organisation is calling on the United Nations to take urgent measures to protect media professionals and hold those responsible to account.
In a statement, AfroMedia said reports from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) have documented the killing of more than 240 journalists and media workers in Gaza in recent months, with dozens more injured or detained.
The organisation said these figures make the territory “the most dangerous place in the world to practise journalism in the 21st century.”
AfroMedia accused Israel of deliberately targeting journalists, naming victims such as Anas Al-Sharif, Hossam Shabat, Ismail Abu Hatab and Yahya Sobeih, in what it described as a “systematic attempt to silence the truth and conceal crimes against civilians.” The group said such actions breach the Geneva Conventions and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, constituting war crimes that require immediate accountability.
The organisation criticised the “silence” of the international community, saying it emboldens further violations. It called on the UN to issue an official condemnation, initiate an urgent international investigation – including through the International Criminal Court – and guarantee independent media access to Gaza to document events and prevent the “monopolisation of the media narrative.”
AfroMedia also urged the implementation of protective measures for journalists, including logistical support and equipment for working in conflict zones.
The group said the deaths of so many journalists represent not only a human tragedy but a severe blow to press freedom, transparency, and the public’s right to information. It warned that the conflict in Gaza is being fought “not only on the ground, but also in the realm of the media narrative,” stressing the need for swift action to protect what remains of the free press in the region.
“Defending journalists means defending truth and justice,” AfroMedia said, adding that safeguarding their lives ensures that future generations retain “the right to know what happened without distortion or concealment.” It called on media and human rights organisations worldwide to stand in solidarity and pressure for an end to the violence.
