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September 08, 2025 – France –
Nearly 400 French-speaking journalists—including members of renowned newsrooms like Le Monde, BFM-TV, Agence France-Presse, and LCI—have issued a powerful appeal to President Emmanuel Macron. In an open op-ed published on September 8, 2025, they urged him to resume evacuations and warmly welcome Palestinian journalists from Gaza who wish to leave the enclave, while also restoring immediate access for the international press to the region.
Since July, this collective has actively helped prepare evacuation dossiers by gathering essential documentation—identity papers, proof of employment, housing guarantees, and even job offers and financial support attestations. They also arranged accommodations to ensure that their Gazan colleagues could be received with dignity in France. These Palestinian journalists, they stressed, are dedicated professionals—not the extremists or militants some propaganda campaigns portray them to be—bringing valuable firsthand reporting from a region under media blackout.
Their plea comes amid tragic statistics: NGOs report that around 220 journalists have died in Gaza due to Israeli strikes, making this conflict the deadliest ever for media professionals. Since the suspension of evacuations, 11 more lives have been lost. The journalists warn that without renewed evacuation efforts and press access, the flow of critical, independent information from Gaza will be severely constrained, hindering global awareness and accountability.
By appealing directly to President Macron, these French-speaking media professionals underscore both humanitarian and journalistic imperatives: to protect lives and preserve freedom of information. Their call is a reminder that in the midst of dire conflict, the ability of journalists to safely report the truth remains a vital cornerstone of global understanding and democratic response.
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