Palestinian Journalists Protection Center (PJPC) has strongly condemned the ongoing Israeli incitement campaigns against journalists in Gaza, saying this aimed at defaming and threatening them to prevent them from continuing their work.
The center has expressed full solidarity with journalist Hassan Sleih from Gaza, who has been subjected to systematic incitements since the beginning of the genocidal war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023.
“We are concerned about the defamation campaign against journalist Sleih, including recent claims by the Israeli Broadcasting Authority “Kan” that he was involved in invasion of Israeli settlements in October 7, and is seeking a way to travel outside Gaza due to fear for his safety,” the center added.
In a statement directed to the center, Sleih strongly denied the Israeli accusations, affirming that he remains committed to his journalistic work and has never attempted to leave Gaza during the war.
Over the past months, he has faced systematic incitement that has negatively impacted his work.
Israel has put Palestinian journalists on crosschairs, committing a series of crimes against them that breach international law and contradict obligations to protect journalists while covering to show the truth and the reality on the ground.
The center revealed that such systematic Israeli targeting of Palestinian journalists in Gaza has been accompanied by ongoing public incitement from Israeli ministers, officials, who is keen to disseminate reports that attempt to undermine the integrity and neutrality of some journalists and fabricate unproven accusations.
“The Israeli occupation army has persistently issued direct threats to journalists in Gaza through direct communications or other means, urging them to cease their work to avoid being targeted,” the center said.
The center calls for an international investigation into the violations and crimes committed by the Israeli army against journalists in Gaza and for immediate measures to hold the perpetrators accountable.
“We also demand pressure on Israel to stop the direct targeting and deliberate killing of journalists, protect their work, and enable them to perform their mission and report the truth.”
According to Gaza Government Media Office, Israeli army has killed 172 journalists in Gaza, since the onset of this war, either by killing them while on duty like Ismail Al-Ghoul, or suddenly striking their houses without warning.
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