Al Jazeera Condemns Systematic Targeting of Journalists by Israeli Forces
October 9, 2024
European Parliament Warns on Shrinking Media Freedom in Turkey
October 11, 2024
October 10, 2024 – Palestine/Israel –
Two Al Jazeera cameramen, Ali al-Attar and Fadi al-Wahidi, were critically injured in separate Israeli strikes while reporting from Gaza. Both were wearing marked press vests and documenting the humanitarian crisis in refugee camps when they were shot by Israeli forces, in what media watchdogs describe as a deliberate assault on journalists.
Fadi al-Wahidi, a veteran journalist, was struck by sniper fire in the neck while filming in Jabalia refugee camp. He was immediately rushed to Al-Ahli Hospital, where doctors revealed that the bullet had damaged major arteries and vertebrae. Despite emergency care, al-Wahidi slipped into a coma and remains in critical condition. On the same day, Ali al-Attar was hit by an Israeli strike while covering displaced civilians in Deir al-Balah. He sustained severe shrapnel injuries and brain trauma. Gaza’s overstretched hospitals, operating under siege and without specialized equipment, have been unable to provide the advanced neurosurgery he desperately needs.
Al Jazeera has condemned the attacks as war crimes, emphasizing that both journalists were identifiable as media workers. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) labeled 2024 the deadliest year for journalists in Gaza and called for immediate accountability. Reporters Without Borders (RSF), along with other press freedom organizations, have demanded that Israel authorize urgent medical evacuation for both men to facilities in Jordan or Qatar. Despite global appeals, Israeli authorities have yet to respond.
These attacks come amid a growing pattern of violence against journalists in Gaza, where local media workers—often the only source of firsthand reporting—are increasingly being targeted. With foreign journalists barred from entry, the burden of documenting the conflict falls entirely on local reporters, many of whom are now paying with their lives or health.
The plight of al-Wahidi and al-Attar highlights not just the personal cost of covering war, but also the broader effort to silence those bearing witness. As they fight for their lives, the world is called to confront the chilling message their injuries send: in Gaza, truth-telling has become a target.
Reference –
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/10/10/cpj-gaza-journalists-al-jazeera/
