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
1. Kim Godwin, President, ABC NEWS
2. Phil Chetwynd, Global News Director, Agence France-Presse
3. Hossam Kanafani, Editor in Chief, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed
4. Shiro Nakamura, President, The Asahi Shimbun, Japan
5. Julie Pace, Executive Editor, Associated Press
6. Simon Spanswick, Chief Executive, Association for International Broadcasters (AIB).
7. Deborah Turness, CEO, BBC News
8. Mark Thompson, Chairman and CEO, CNN Worldwide
9. Daoud Kuttab, Director General, Community Media Network, Jordan
10. Branko Brkic, Editor in Chief, Daily Maverick, South Africa
11. Alia Ibrahim, Co-founder / CEO, Daraj, Lebanon
12. Roula Khalaf, Editor, Financial Times, UK
13. Katharine Viner, Editor in Chief, The Guardian, UK
14. Aluf Benn, Editor in Chief, Haaretz
15. Geordie Grieg, Editor in Chief, The Independent, UK
16. Sandy Prieto-Romualdez, Chairperson, Inquirer Group of Companies, The Philippines
17. Deirdre Veldon, Managing Director, former Deputy Editor, The Irish Times
18. Rachel Corp, Chief Executive, ITN, UK
19. Andrew Dagnell, Editor, ITV News, UK
20. Terry Tang, Interim Executive Editor, Los Angeles Times
21. Rameeza Nizami, Managing Director, Nawaiwaqt Group, Pakistan
22. Pamella Sittoni, Group Managing Editor, Nation Media Group, Kenya
23. Rebecca Blumenstein, President, Editorial, NBC News
24. David Remnick, Editor, The New Yorker
25. AG Sulzberger, Publisher, The New York Times
26. Martha Ramos, President, World Editors Forum / Chief Editorial Officer, Organización Editorial Mexicana
27. Hans Väre, Editor in Chief, Postimees Grupp, Estonia
28. Alan Rusbridger, Editor, Prospect magazine, UK
29. Ritu Kapur, CEO, The Quint, India
30. Maria Ressa, CEO and Co-Founder, Rappler Inc.
31. Alessandra Galloni, Editor in Chief, Reuters
32. Nwabisa Makunga, Editor in Chief, The Sowetan, South Africa
33. Dirk Kurbjuweit, Editor in Chief, Der Spiegel
34. Wolfgang Krach, Editor in Chief, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Germany
35. Sally Buzbee, Executive Editor, The Washington Post
36. Vincent Peyrègne, CEO, World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA)
Download the open letter on journalists in Gaza.
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