MRN press statement on Israel's targeted killing of journalists in Gaza genocide 

29 August 2024

Media Review Network (MRN) fully supports the call by prominent media and human rights organisations on the European Union to suspend its co-operation accord with Israel. 

We also call on media institutions in South Africa especially the South African National Editors Forum (SANEF) to endorse this call:

"In response to the unprecedented number of journalists killed and other repeated press freedom violations by the Israeli authorities since the start of the war with Hamas, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and 59 other organisations are calling on the European Union to suspend its Association Agreement with Israel and to adopt targeted sanctions against those responsible". 

The urgency of the call cannot be underestimated. Israel’s daily targeted killing of journalists in its genocidal war in Gaza is widely recorded. However that the settler colonial regime remains unpunished for blatantly targeting journalists, is a sad indictment of the failure of media practitioners outside of the Occupied Territories to intervene. 

Israel's war on journalists is not an isolated issue. Nor is it disconnected from the regime's military and political goals. 

Knowing that its public image is shattered and in the gutters, the rightwing Netanyahu-led gang of warlords have imposed a media blackout to recapture the media narrative. 

We are outraged that since Israel's devastating military assault on the Gaza Strip following October 7th, it has been the deadliest for journalists in decades.

"More than 130 Palestinian journalists and media professionals have been killed by the Israeli armed forces in Gaza since 7 October. At least 30 of them were killed in the course of their work, three Lebanese journalists and an Israeli journalist have also been (killed) during the same period", says the statement addressed to the EU. 

South Africa is fortunate to have Youmna Al-Sayed currently touring the country where she has the opportunity to provide harrowing accounts of the ordeal she faced covering the genocide in Gaza. 

Being an award-winning Al Jazeera journalist, she reminded her audiences both at public events as well as via radio and TV interviews that violence against journalists can never be justified. 

We concur with her view that international law prohibits such attacks and that the safety of journalists should be guaranteed. 

UN experts have confirmed that they are in possession of reports that despite being clearly identifiable in jackets and helmets marked "press" or travelling in well-marked press vehicles, journalists have come under attack. 

Clearly it indicates that the killings, injury and detention are a deliberate strategy by the Netanyahu regime to obstruct the media and silence critical reporting. 

Issued by Iqbal Jassat, Executive Member, Media Review Network, 29 August 2024