Israel's War On Journalists And Media Workers (X image@ MusthafaBarghou1)
Over 152 journalists and media workers were killed by the Israeli airstrike in Gaza since the beginning of the war, among which, over 103 are Palestinians. Like all of its other alleged war crimes, Tel Aviv has never once given an admission on unlawful killing of Palestinian civilians or journalists. Israeli government and army still maintain that they only target Hamas.
Legal experts believe that the killing of Palestinian journalists, who are the only source for the outside world to know the barbarism of Israelis in Gaza, is being putting an end to the spreading of evidence on Israeli atrocities from the battleground.
Foreign journalists are restricted from entering into Gaza. Since the beginning of the war, outside media personalities were not allowed into the costal enclave, which has been under the choke hold of Israel for decades. They were only allowed to enter through Israeli army embed, were the latter controls what media see. The journalists are not allowed to move around on their own.
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In its latest investigation, The Guardian, UK based news outlet, said that certain Palestinian journalists were viewed as targets for the attack, by the occupation force.
Olivier Rafowicz, one of the senior Israeli officials told The Guardian that there is no difference in working for a media outlet affiliated with Hamas and being a fighter in the Qassam Brigades. He added that there is no difference between the political wing and military wing of Hamas.
The statement, which is considered as a slip of tongue of the official, prompted the IDF (Israel Defence Force) to release a correction and a retraction saying that the statement is not the army’s official standard.
A spokesperson reiterated that the Israeli military does not target media personnel: “Rafowicz erred as these comments mischaracterise [the Israeli military’s targeting policy]”.
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Targeting journalists violates the international law. According to Committee to Protect Journalists, over 103 Palestinian journalists and media workers were killed in Gaza.
In its investigation, The Guardian found that at least 23 members of the Al Aqsa network, a media channel alleged to have link with Hamas, were killed.
Several international media houses and news agency AFP has found that the news agency’s office in Gaza “was probably hit by Israeli tank fire” on November 2 last year, leaving the office badly damaged.
Many experts who were interviewed has confirmed that the office was “very likely” struck by an Israeli tank. AFP said the occupation force knew the GPS coordinates of its office. Fortunately, the office had been evacuated approximately one month prior to the attack.
Israel denied the accusations and said that an investigation was underway.
According to Jerusalem Post, the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) has given initial approval to extend and permanently implement the “Al Jazeera Law”.
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The Al Jazeera Law is a measure that allows the Israeli authorities power to shut down foreign media sources, which it deemed to be threat to national security. It allowed Israeli government to block Al Jazeera’s broadcasts in Israel and shut down its offices.
Jerusalem Post reported that the measure was designed to be temporary, setting up a system of judicial review and government reapproval of the decision every 45 days. An expiration date was also set for July 31.
The latest voting on the bill cancelled July 31 expiration date, making the law to remain in force indefinitely. It also extended its need for the government from every 45 days to 90 days. The bill also added a provision that the communications minister could “direct government agencies responsible for the issue to stop the channel’s broadcast”.
