“Gaza is a graveyard for both people and facts. In times of destruction, journalism is an act of resistance. Those who try to suppress it through intimidation, murder, or censorship are not only an enemy of the press but also of democracy.”
With these words, a special meeting of the Council of Europe on press freedom in the Middle East, with special attention to Gaza, was opened last week. During the event, Palestinian, Israeli, and international voices came together to speak about the growing intimidation, violence, and assassination attempts on journalists.
The meeting was organized by Saskia Kluit (Netherlands, SOC) and Paul Galles (Luxembourg, EPP). PACE is the deliberative body of the Council of Europe where representatives from 46 countries work together on human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. Saskia is PACE rapporteur for the humanitarian crisis for women and children in Gaza and a former member of the Dutch Senate for GroenLinks.
Press Freedom in Wartime is Vital
Since October 7, at least 184 journalists and media professionals have been killed in Gaza — a shocking and historically unprecedented number. These figures show how systematically press freedom in the Palestinian territories is being attacked. Press freedom is, especially in wartime, vital. People have the right to information about where they can safely take shelter, and independent reporting makes it possible to signal and address war crimes and crimes against humanity. The safety of journalists is therefore firmly anchored in international humanitarian law.
“We are fighting not only to survive but also to tell you the truth about what is really happening in the Gaza Strip.”
Saskia Kluit previously stated in her role as PACE rapporteur that the Israeli government does not respect international humanitarian law and that the actions in Gaza point to ethnic cleansing and genocide. The large numbers of journalists killed once again highlight the seriousness of the situation and the consequences of not protecting press freedom.
Journalists Under Fire
Bisan Ouda, known for her Instagram videos about daily life in Gaza, shared a poignant message: “We are fighting not only to survive but also to tell you the truth about what is really happening in the Gaza Strip.”
The Israeli journalist Anat Saragusti emphasized that the Israeli media hardly pays attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Palestinian journalist Shuruq As’ad added: “There is NO safe place in Gaza. We have already lost more than 12% of all journalists.”
During the meeting, the photo book Free and Safe Press in the Middle East: Reporting from Gaza was also presented. The book concludes with a clear call to politicians and media: take responsibility and protect citizens and journalists. Journalists are urged not only to report on their murdered colleagues but also on the deeper consequences of these attacks: silencing the free press, allowing war crimes to go unpunished.
GroenLinks-PvdA continues to advocate for Gaza, for press freedom and the protection of journalists worldwide. Because without a free press, there is no free society.