TweetBy Staff Reporter The African Initiative for Journalism and Media (AfroMedia) has strongly condemned what it describes as the systematic targeting of journalists and civilians in Gaza by the Israeli occupation since October 7, 2023.The organisation says the killings represent a blatant violation of international laws and UN charters guaranteeing the protection of civilians and media workers during armed conflicts.Citing reports from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), AfroMedia noted that more than 240 journalists and media professionals have been killed in Gaza in recent months, with dozens more injured or arrested.This, it says, has made the enclave “the most dangerous place in the world to practice journalism in the 21st century.”The organisation highlighted the cases of journalists such as Anas Al-Sharif, Hossam Shabat, Ismail Abu Hatab, and Yahya Sobeih, whose deaths it describes as part of a deliberate campaign to “silence the truth” and “conceal crimes against civilians.” AfroMedia says such acts violate the Geneva Conventions and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, constituting war crimes whose perpetrators must face immediate accountability.“The Israeli war machine is targeting journalists to monopolise the media narrative and prevent the world from seeing the reality on the ground,” the statement read “This is not only a human tragedy but an assault on press freedom, transparency, and future generations’ right to knowledge.”AfroMedia warned that the international community’s silence has emboldened continued violations It called on the United Nations to take urgent action, including issuing an immediate and official condemnation, launching an international investigation through bodies such as the International Criminal Court, and granting independent media teams access to Gaza to ensure accurate documentation of events.The initiative also urged the creation of preventive protection mechanisms for journalists in conflict zones, including logistical support and essential safety equipment.AfroMedia stressed that the loss of so many journalists is a direct blow to the free press and global truth-telling “Defending journalists means defending truth and justice,” it said.“Protecting their lives is safeguarding humanity’s collective memory of what happened, without distortion or concealment.”It called on all media and human rights organisations to stand in solidarity and apply sustained pressure to halt what it described as the Israeli war machine’s assault on both human life and the free voice in Gaza Source: HealthTimes All Zim News is a central hub for all things Zimbabwean, curating news from across the country so no story is missed Alongside aggregation, our team of nationwide reporters provides real-time, on-the-ground coverage Stay informed and connected — reach us at admin@allzimnews.com . Source: Healthtimes
Image from AfroMedia Condemns Targeted Killings of Journalists in Gaza Urges UN to Act 