The institution detailed in a statement that Israeli security forces have detained 177 Palestinian journalists since the beginning of the current cycle of violence in October 2023. It criticized the crackdown on journalists in the occupied territories, as an attempt to hide the truth, and denounced that they are subjected to all the systematic crimes faced by other Palestinian detainees, including hunger, lack of medical care, torture, and other forms of abuse.
The Club called on the international community to stop the Israeli aggression both in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as in prisons.
The Gaza Government Press Office recently warned that Israeli troops have killed more than 200 journalists in the sector in the territory since the start of the current cycle of violence in October 2023. “We urge the International Federation of Journalists, the Arab Federation of Journalists, and other related institutions to condemn the systematic Israeli attacks against our colleagues,” it emphasized.
In recent weeks, numerous journalists have been killed in the Gaza Strip, including Mohammad Mansour, correspondent for Palestine Today; Hussam Shabat, reporter for the Qatari television station Al Jazeera; and Mohammed Saleh al-Bardawil of Al-Aqsa TV.
Last year, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization awarded the Guillermo Cano Prize to Palestinian journalists covering the conflict in recognition of their work.
This month, several Palestinian journalists, released from Israeli prisons, denounced the torture and harassment they have been subjected to in recent months. “I was detained for almost a full year, and as soon as they arrested me, they interrogated me and asked me about the organizations I work with. The mere fact that I work in journalism is an accusation, since, according to their beliefs, it threatens Israel’s security,” criticized Khader Abdel Aal.
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