Journalists in India Under Threat: Alarming Spike in Violence and Impunity
January 20, 2025
Peter Greste Launches Hunger Strike in Support of Detained Egyptian-British Dissident Alaa Abd el-Fattah
January 20, 2025
January 20, 2025 – Palestine/Israel –
Since the outbreak of the war in Gaza in October 2023, at least 193 journalists and media workers have been killed by Israeli forces, according to data reported by The New Arab and confirmed by local media outlets. This marks one of the deadliest periods for journalists in modern history, with over 210 media personnel reportedly killed as of April 2025. Most of the victims were Palestinian journalists working under siege conditions with limited access to safety, resources, or protective gear.
In response, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has submitted several applications to the International Criminal Court (ICC) requesting that Palestinian journalists be granted victim status in ongoing war crimes proceedings related to the conflict. If accepted, these journalists would be allowed to participate in the ICC process not just as witnesses, but as formally recognized victims, enabling them to provide testimony, seek reparations, and pursue justice for colleagues killed or injured in the line of duty.
RSF’s Middle East chief, Jonathan Dagher, emphasized that this move is essential to acknowledging the suffering of Gaza’s press community and holding the Israeli military accountable for repeated violations of press freedom and international law. RSF has already filed four war crimes complaints to the ICC related to journalist deaths in Gaza since October 2023.
The organization’s legal initiative is part of a broader campaign calling for open borders for international journalists, reconstruction of Gaza’s media infrastructure, and full investigations into the deaths and targeting of media professionals.
Rights groups argue that the scale of journalist fatalities, combined with evidence of deliberate targeting, warrants urgent international legal intervention. Granting victim status would set a historic precedent, affirming that journalists are not just observers but protected civilians under international humanitarian law.
Bottom line: RSF’s push for ICC recognition comes amid a staggering toll on Gaza’s journalists. As calls for accountability grow louder, this effort aims to ensure that media workers are not forgotten in the pursuit of justice and that those responsible for their deaths face consequences.
Reference –
https://www.newarab.com/news/193-journalists-killed-israeli-forces-gaza-oct-2023
