Attacks on Journalists in Gaza
In the shadow of the long-standing conflict in Gaza, journalists who have been reporting the genocide committed by Israel to the world public gathered for an important event on August 1. This date refers to a press conference held in front of the house of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed by Israel in Tehran, in the al-Shati Camp in northern Gaza. According to the information conveyed by the journalists to Al-Jazeera, forces affiliated with the occupying army reached out to Al-Jazeera reporter Ismail Gul and told him to leave the area or he would be subjected to aerial bombardment. Gul preferred to get in the car with cameraman Rami al-Rifi and leave the area. However, the sound of an explosion heard a short time later caught the attention of the journalists and they rushed to the scene and discovered that the vehicle used by Gul and Rifi had come under airstrike. Unfortunately, both journalists lost their lives in this attack.
JOURNALISTS ARE TARGETED BY THE OCCUPIERS
According to a report published jointly by the Palestinian Government Press Office in Gaza, the Palestinian Journalists Union and the International Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Israel has killed a total of 165 journalists in Gaza. Ismail Gul and Rami al-Rifi are the 164th and 165th journalists to have died in Gaza since October 7. Field reporter Ashraf al-Amra, who provided information to Yeni Şafak about the situation of journalists in Gaza last May, said that the Israeli army specifically targets journalists who wear vests with the word “Press” in order to conceal the truth. What happened to Al-Jazeera reporters Ismail Gul and Rami al-Rifi once again confirms this situation.
CALL TO INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said the attack in which Gul and Rifi were killed exposed Israel’s war crimes against journalists in Gaza. RSF Campaign Director Rebecca Vincent called on Israeli forces to immediately stop the violence against journalists, which “constitutes war crimes.” Vincent called on the international community to increase pressure on Israel to ensure journalists can do their work in safety in Gaza and to ensure justice for the journalists who lost their lives.
