IFJ discusses filing complaint to ICC over Israeli crimes against Palestinian journalists

AL-BIREH - The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Executive Committee will hold a meeting next Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss submitting a complaint related to the Israeli occupation crimes against Palestinian journalists to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Its Secretary-General Anthony Bellanger said Thursday the number of journalists who have been killed since the start of the aggression on the Gaza Strip on Oct 7 is very large, Palestine News Agency (WAFA) quoted him as saying during a press conference held at the headquarters of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS) in Al-Bireh.

"The Israeli forces have killed more journalists in the past six weeks than it has killed in the past 20 years," he said.

Bellanger stressed that he stands with the Palestinian people, rejects what Palestinian journalists are being subjected to, and that he came to support them and stand with them in facing the occupation, specifically in the Gaza Strip.

He pointed out that he represents 600,000 journalists around the world and called on governments globally to adhere to United Nations (UN) resolutions related to protecting journalists, holding perpetrators of crimes accountable, and preventing their impunity in order to provide security, protection, and freedom of expression for journalists.

Meanwhile, the head of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, Nasser Abu Bakr said that Palestinian journalists are facing a wide-scale war and massacres are being committed against them.

He added that since the first day of the aggression against Gaza, the IFJ was in constant touch with the PJS and provided it with important assistance to facilitate the work of journalists in the Gaza Strip.

Abu Bakr stressed that the PJS is ready to provide all forms of support to journalists in the Gaza Strip, explaining that it is ready to go to the Gaza Strip with the IFJ and the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate.

He called on the Prosecutor of the ICC to expedite opening an investigation into the crimes committed against Palestinian journalists.

It is noteworthy that about 59 journalists and media workers were killed as a result of the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip. - BERNAMA