Reporters Without Borders calls for Israeli occupation army to be punished for crimes against journalists in Gaza

PARIS, Jan. 16 (YPA) – “Reporters Without Borders” called for the borders to be opened and those responsible for the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation army to be held accountable after the announcement of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

The organization’s director general, Thibaut Brotan, said in a statement issued on Wednesday evening that the Israeli army killed more than 150 Palestinian journalists during a year and three months of war in Gaza, including at least 41 while performing their work.

Brotan explained that the ceasefire agreement concluded on January 15 between Israel and Hamas must guarantee the entry of journalists into the Strip. He added that this agreement ends a period of war that lasted more than 15 months, which made Palestine the most dangerous place in the world for journalists.

He highlighted the importance of supporting the work of local and international journalists at the current stage, stressing that this work has become more necessary than ever to keep pace with the path of justice after the agreement. Therefore, international journalists must be allowed immediate and independent access to the besieged sector.

The Reporters Without Borders, which has filed four lawsuits with the International Criminal Court since October 7, 2023, renewed its call on the legal body to “prosecute the perpetrators of international crimes against journalists in Gaza.”

The organization said, “The context of the war gave the Israeli far-right government the opportunity to strengthen its control over the media scene.”

It is noteworthy that the figures of the Government Information Office in the Gaza Strip indicate that the number of journalist martyrs has reached 205 since the beginning of the genocide in the Strip.

YPA