Journalists Rally in London for Gaza Press Freedom

August 28, 2025 – United Kingdom –

Dozens of journalists gathered outside 10 Downing Street in central London on August 27, holding a vigil and reading aloud the names of more than 200 journalists killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023. The demonstration, organized by the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), followed a particularly deadly airstrike in southern Gaza’s Khan Yunis—which claimed the lives of at least 20 Palestinians, including five journalists working for Al Jazeera, Reuters, and AP. The NUJ presented a letter demanding accountability and stronger action from Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the UK government to better protect media workers in conflict zones.

The collective action was part of a broader “48 hours of solidarity” campaign, where journalists across the UK and Ireland staged vigils in support of colleagues facing grave threats in Gaza. NUJ members condemned the apparent targeting of journalists, emphasizing the urgent need for international mechanisms to ensure their safety and uphold press freedom under international law.

Freelance journalist Deborah Hobson, one of the organizers, criticized the UK government’s response as “extremely poor,” calling on the prime minister—whose background in human rights law raises expectations—to take more decisive steps. She underscored that this was not just symbolic solidarity; it was a call for tangible policy responses.

The vigil served both as a memorial and a protest. It spotlighted the escalating risks for journalists in Gaza amid sustained bombardment, and renewed calls for unrestricted media access to conflict zones, transparent investigations into attacks on the press, and international pressure to curb impunity. The solidarity demonstrated in London reflects a wider imperative: that the global journalism community must stand together to safeguard the truth—and those who bear witness.

References –

htps://kuwaittimes.com/article/32457/world/europe/journalists-rally-in-london-to-support-colleagues-in-gaza/

https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/28/08/2025/journalists-rally-in-london-to-support-colleagues-in-gaza/