Algerian Radio
The number of Palestinian journalists martyred has climbed to 262, according to Muhammad Al-Laham, head of the Freedoms Committee of the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate. Citing reports from the WAFA news agency, Al-Laham decried a staggering escalation in systemic attacks targeting media professionals since October 7, 2023.
These remarks were delivered during a press conference and subsequent rally held outside the Syndicate's headquarters in Al-Bireh. Organized to mark World Press Freedom Day, the gathering served as a protest against the relentless violence facing the press and a call for those responsible to finally face justice.
Al-Laham also condemned the ongoing ban preventing foreign journalists from entering the Gaza Strip. He argued that this media blockade is a calculated move to stifle the flow of information, effectively preventing the international community from witnessing the raw reality on the ground. He emphasized that the targeting of journalists is far from accidental; it is a "deliberate policy" aimed at dismantling the Palestinian media landscape.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, the Syndicate’s Vice-President, Omar Nazzal, noted that Palestinian journalists are working under "exceptional conditions" that have no modern parallel anywhere else in the world. He highlighted that the occupation has carried out more than 4,000 documented crimes and violations against media workers during this period.
Nazzal urged international organizations and global federations to step up and enforce international laws regarding the protection of journalists. Specifically, he called for the immediate implementation of the United Nations plan to combat impunity for crimes committed against the press. He also reminded the public that while the Syndicate has filed numerous complaints with the International Criminal Court (ICC), no concrete action has been taken by the court to date.
Despite the lethal risks, Nazzal underscored that Palestinian journalists—particularly those on the front lines in Gaza—remain steadfast in their mission to document history and broadcast the facts to the rest of the world. During the demonstration, journalists and union representatives raised banners with slogans such as "Stop the Media Genocide" and "Together to Hold the Killers of Palestinian Journalists Accountable."
