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November 1, 2024 – Palestine/UN –
UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a stark warning about the escalating danger faced by media workers in Gaza during the first anniversary of the Israel–Gaza conflict. Speaking at the UN International Media Seminar in Geneva, Guterres condemned the unprecedented level of journalist fatalities, stating that “journalists in Gaza have been killed at a level unseen in any conflict” and labeling it “unacceptable”.
He highlighted the ongoing ban on international reporters entering Gaza, warning that obstructing press access “suffocates the truth even further.” Guterres criticized the escalating violence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem—including intensified settlement expansion and settler attacks—as compounding threats not only to journalists but to any possibility of a two-state peace.
Representatives from the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate noted 173 media workers killed since October 7, 2023, with Guterres urging better protection for journalists and calling for an immediate cease-fire, unconditional release of hostages, and safe, unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and Lebanon.
UN diplomats echoed his sentiments: Senegal’s UN envoy Cheikh Niang argued that Israeli military actions and infrastructure restrictions have severely hindered the ability of local and international media to operate. He praised Gaza reporters for their courage and underscored their role in constructing a historical record of the conflict.
Guterres, alongside UNESCO’s Freedom of Expression team leader Guilherme Canela, stressed that 85% of journalist killings go unpunished, urging the international community to demand transparent investigations and justice to deter further atrocities.
Meanwhile, UN independent expert Irene Khan described Gaza as the most severe threat to freedom of expression in recent memory, citing targeted killings, arbitrary detention, bans on major networks, and online censorship as evidence of a systemic assault on journalism.
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