Wednesday, November 08, 2023

Committee to Protect Journalists says 39 journalists killed in Israel-Gaza war


The Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday at least 39 journalists, mostly Palestinians in Gaza, have been killed in the Israel-Gaza war - the deadliest month for journalists since CPJ began gathering that data in 1992. Smoke billows following an Israeli strike on the houses of the Qeshta family, in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Nov. 6. 
Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI | License Photo

Nov. 8 (UPI) -- The Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday that the one month since the start of Israel's war with Hamas has been the deadliest for journalists since it began gathering data in 1992.

The New York-based NGO said at least 39 journalists have been killed since the conflict began on Oct.7 including 34 Palestinians in Gaza.

Four of the journalists killed in the war were Israelis killed by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, while another Lebanese journalist was killed while working near Lebanon-Israel border.

Eight of the journalists who were killed in Gaza worked for what CPJ said were Hamas-affiliated outlets.

"Journalists in Gaza face particularly  high risks as they try to cover the conflict in the face of an Israeli ground assault on Gaza City, devastating Israeli airstrikes, disrupted communications, and extensive power outages," CPJ said in a statement.

Eight journalists were reported injured, three were missing and nine were arrested.

CPJ said it's investigating all reports of journalists killed, injured or missing in the war.

"CPJ emphasizes that journalists are civilians doing important work during times of crisis and must not be targeted by warring parties," said CPJ's Sherif Mansour in a statement. "Journalists across the region are making great sacrifices to cover this heart-breaking conflict. Those in Gaza, in particular, have paid, and continue to pay, an unprecedented toll and face exponential threats. Many have lost colleagues, families, and media facilities, and have fled seeking safety when there is no safe haven or exit."

Last week, Reporters Without Borders filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court alleging that journalists killed during the Israel-Gaza war were victims of war crimes.

Citing nine deaths, including eight Palestinian journalists killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza and one Israeli journalist covering a Hamas attack on his kibbutz it said the recurring and serious nature of the war crimes targeting journalists calls for a "priority investigation" by the ICC.


G7 foreign ministers call for 'urgent' humanitarian pause in Gaza


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| Palestinian families flee the Israeli bombing of Gaza City, walking south in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday.
 Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI |

Nov. 8 (UPI) -- G7 foreign ministers meeting in Japan issued a statement Wednesday calling for "humanitarian pauses" in Israel's military offensive against Gaza to allow aid in, civilians to get out of harm's way and the freeing of hostages.

The communique stressed that urgent action was necessary to address what the leaders, including U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, said was a "deteriorating humanitarian crisis" in Gaza.

The leaders did not, however, call for a cease-fire.

"All parties must allow unimpeded humanitarian support for civilians, including food, water, medical care, fuel and shelter and access for humanitarian workers. We support humanitarian pauses and corridors to facilitate urgently needed assistance, civilian movement and the release of hostages. Foreign nationals must also be allowed to continue to depart," the statement read.


Palestinian families flee Gaza City amid bombing

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Palestinian families flee the Israeli bombing of Gaza City as they walk south on November 7, 2023. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI | License Photo

The ministers also underlined that civilians must be protected and international law, in particular international humanitarian law, must be adhered to.

They added that they condemned "unequivocally" the Oct. 7 terror attacks by Hamas and others across Israel, as well as ongoing missile strikes against Israel, and emphasized its right to defend itself in accordance with international law.

However, they warned that a rise in extremist settler violence against Palestinians was unacceptable, undermined security in the West Bank and threatened prospects for a longer term peace, namely a two-state solution with Israel and a Palestinian state, to which G7 members were committed to making a reality.

Speaking to reporters after the ministers' meeting, Blinken challenged those calling for an immediate cease-fire to address the problem that it would leave Hamas with the capacity to fulfill its stated intention of repeating the atrocities of Oct. 7 "again and again."

The only way forward, he said, was to begin creating the conditions for a "durable peace and security."

Blinken stressed "no forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza" would be a non-negotiable principle of any such plan, "not now, not after the war."

However, he also said that under no circumstance would Gaza be permitted to be used as a base for terrorism and the plan would have to include guarantees against the risk of the West Bank emerging as a platform for terrorists.

Other conditions include maintaining Gaza's existing territorial borders and no future blockades.

Blinken also ruled out Israel reoccupying the territory, which flew in the face of suggestions by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday that the country would assume control for an "indefinite period" after Israel's military objectives were achieved.

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