Global voices: Solidarity with fallen journalists in Palestine
SHAHALAM - As Israeli forces' bombardment on Gaza continues, members of the press found themselves caught in a crossfire, facing increased risks while covering the events on the ground.
Since Oct 7, 48 journalists were reported to have been killed in the line of duty.
The toll on the media community has highlighted the dangers faced by journalists in conflict zones and raised concerns about press freedom and the safety of those reporting on the front lines.
The deaths of Palestinian journalists have sparked outrage and renewed discussions about the challenges faced by media workers in conflict zones, particularly in areas with ongoing tensions.
In response to the attacks on media members in Palestine, the international journalism community has rallied in solidarity.
News organisations and journalists worldwide have highlighted the risks faced by their Palestinian counterparts and condemned the violence targeting them.
Here are some of the organisations who has shown solidarity with the Palestinian media members amid the escalating violence in Gaza:
Federation of African Journalists (FAJ)
FAJ has stood strongly with the Palestine Journalists Syndicate (PJS) and all journalists in Palestine.
It expressed its concerns regarding the tragic loss of lives and the ongoing attacks on journalists in Gaza.
Its president Sadiq Ibrahim Ahmed emphasised the importance of standing united with colleagues in Palestine and demanding justice for these acts.
The Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM)
PYM, a transnational, independent, grassroots movement of young Palestinians in Palestine and in exile worldwide, has called on media workers’ unions to demand an end to biased pro-Israel coverage of the conflict and to the targeting of pro-Palestine journalists.
This movement came into place after dozens of media members were sacked in a few media agencies for their pro-Palestine comments and news pieces.
Save Press 4 Gaza
More than 100 Malaysian media practitioners gathered at Dataran Merdeka on Nov 18 to show their solidarity with fellow practitioners who were putting their lives on the line to cover the news in Palestine's besieged Gaza.
The group urged media practitioners worldwide to raise their objections against the Zionist regime's violence and show their support so that the sacrifices of journalists in the field were not in vain.
Karachi Press Club (KPC)
Around 100 protesters marched from the KPC to the Sindh Governor House, chanting slogans and waving Palestinian flags as they wore the keffiyeh — a black and white patterned scarf.
Global Media Organisations
The international press bodies have condemned the killings of media workers and called for an independent investigation into their deaths.
Palestinian and Arab press organisations have gone further, saying they would sue Israel for its 'war crimes' against the Palestinians and journalists.
Media personnel from around the world have shown solidarity with Palestinian media members who were killed in Palestine in various ways due to the Israeli forces' relentless bombings on Gaza.
They have shown solidarity through public statements, social media postings and organised campaigns.
However, there have also been reports of censorship, intimidation and reprisals against journalists and media workers who expressed pro-Palestine sentiments.
The Palestinian death toll in Gaza has exceeded 13,000 since Oct 7.
