DaysofPal- The Egyptian Journalists Syndicate has strongly condemned the killing of Palestinian journalists in the Gaza Strip, stating that the deliberate targeting of media professionals amounts to a war crime intended to silence the truth.
In a statement released Friday, the syndicate expressed mourning for journalists Mohammed Salah Qishta, Anas Ghoneim, and Abdel Raouf Shaat, who were killed a day earlier when Israeli occupation forces struck a vehicle belonging to the Egyptian Relief Committee in Gaza.
The syndicate noted that the vehicle was clearly marked with humanitarian symbols.
Describing the incident as a heinous crime, the syndicate said the attack took place despite an existing ceasefire agreement and represents a calculated assault on journalists in their role as witnesses to reality, aimed at suppressing free expression and concealing ongoing crimes against the Palestinian people.
The statement said the killing of journalists reflects a systematic policy of targeting those who report the truth, adding that the death toll of journalists in Gaza since the start of the war has climbed to nearly 260.
It described this as one of the deadliest campaigns against journalists in modern history and a fully constituted war crime.
According to the syndicate, the seriousness of the incident is heightened by the fact that it occurred during a ceasefire, underscoring the intent to eliminate the voice of truth and erase its witnesses.
The syndicate said Palestinian civilians continue to suffer despite the truce, with children and other non-combatants bearing the brunt of ongoing violence, including in areas where they should be protected.
It added that journalists are facing a parallel campaign of intimidation, pursuit, and direct targeting in retaliation for their work documenting violations and exposing realities on the ground.
The statement said the killing of journalists during a ceasefire, while they were engaged in clearly humanitarian activity, confirms that journalism itself has become a target.
“An attack on journalists in Gaza and Palestine is an attack on every honorable journalist worldwide who stands for the truth,” it said.
The syndicate called for international prosecution of those responsible and voiced support for efforts by the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate and the International Federation of Journalists to pursue accountability for war crimes.
It stressed that the continued bloodshed would not pass without response, pledging to intensify efforts in international forums to end impunity, which it said has enabled ongoing violations.
The syndicate also urged Arab and international journalist unions, media organizations, and press institutions to step up advocacy and pressure campaigns, and to reject coverage that overlooks these crimes.
It warned that the issue extends beyond Palestinian journalists and represents a test of the conscience of the global journalism profession.
The statement concluded by affirming full solidarity with Palestinian journalists across all of Palestine, praising their resilience and dedication to free journalism, and asserting that their cameras and pens will continue to document the Palestinian narrative despite bombardment, displacement, and detention, ensuring that the truth endures and cannot be silenced.
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