Wave of Black Journalists Exit Washington Post Amid Editorial Shift and Diversity Concerns
July 30, 2025
Kurdish Journalist Omed Baroshky’s Prison Term Extended Amid Defamation Conviction
July 30, 2025
July 30, 2025 – Palestine –
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has strongly condemned the Israeli military for what it describes as a systematic and dangerous campaign to discredit journalists in Gaza. In a statement released on July 29, the IFJ accused the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) of repeatedly spreading false and unsubstantiated claims that media professionals, particularly those working with Al Jazeera, are affiliated with armed groups such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. These allegations, according to the IFJ, not only lack evidence but also serve to endanger journalists by portraying them as legitimate military targets.
Among the most prominent cases is that of Al Jazeera’s correspondent Anas al-Sharif, who Israeli officials have publicly accused of being a member of Hamas’s armed wing. Al Jazeera has firmly denied the accusations, describing them as part of an orchestrated smear campaign aimed at silencing independent reporting from Gaza. The IFJ emphasised that these defamatory attacks are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of delegitimising local journalism during Israel’s ongoing assault on the enclave.
The IFJ warned that such rhetoric violates international humanitarian law, including Article 79 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions, which designates journalists as civilians and grants them full protection in conflict zones. IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger called on governments, international institutions, and technology platforms to intervene by challenging these accusations and supporting the safety of journalists.
This campaign of defamation is taking place in a context where foreign media remain largely barred from Gaza, leaving local journalists as the primary source of information about the humanitarian crisis. Media advocates argue that Israel’s attempt to link reporters to militant groups is a calculated effort to justify attacks on press workers and erode public trust in their reporting.
The IFJ reiterated that journalism is not a crime and that journalists should never be treated as combatants. It urged Israel to stop spreading false accusations immediately and to ensure the safety and neutrality of all journalists operating in Gaza.
References –
https://www.thecanary.co/global/world-analysis/2025/07/28/al-jazeera-news/
