The African Initiative for Journalism and Media (AfroMedia) has condemned what it described as “systematic crimes” by Israeli forces against journalists and civilians in Gaza since October 7, 2023, calling on the United Nations to take urgent measures to protect media professionals in conflict zones.
In a statement issued on Monday, AfroMedia said more than 240 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza in recent months, citing figures from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). The group said dozens more have been injured or arrested, making Gaza “the most dangerous place in the world to practice journalism in the 21st century.”
According to AfroMedia, journalists including Anas Al-Sharif, Hossam Shabat, Ismail Abu Hatab, and Yahya Sobeih have been targeted in what it described as a deliberate campaign to “silence the truth and conceal crimes against civilians.” The organisation said these actions violate the Geneva Conventions and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, amounting to war crimes that demand immediate accountability.
“The Israeli war machine is targeting journalists to hide the occupation’s crimes against civilians,” AfroMedia said, adding that the international community’s silence has enabled the continuation of such violations.
The group urged the UN to issue an official condemnation of the killings, launch an urgent international investigation through the International Criminal Court, allow independent media teams access to Gaza, and provide protective equipment and logistical support for journalists in war zones.
AfroMedia stressed that the deaths of journalists in Gaza represent not only a human tragedy but also a severe blow to press freedom, transparency, and the public’s right to information. “Defending journalists means defending truth and justice,” the statement read, urging global media and human rights organisations to stand in solidarity and demand an end to the attacks.
