Gaza’s Press Under Fire: Journalists Fear for Their Lives
August 16, 2025
Cape Town, August 17, 2025 – More than 2,000 South African journalists and media workers marched through Sea Point, Cape Town, demanding protection for Palestinian colleagues in Gaza and denouncing what they described as Israel’s deliberate targeting of the press.
The demonstration, organized by Journalists Against Apartheid (JAA) and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, drew wide support from civil society, including Mothers4Gaza, South African Jews for a Free Palestine, and Healthcare Workers 4 Palestine.
Catalyst: Al-Shifa Hospital Strike
The march was sparked by the August 10 airstrike on a tent outside Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, which killed five Al Jazeera correspondents and a freelance journalist. Protesters referred to the attack as a “media massacre” and a continuation of Israel’s systemic targeting of Palestinian journalists, with the aim of silencing reports of war crimes and genocide.
Key Messages and Criticism
Speakers condemned Western media outlets for repeating Israeli narratives while sidelining Palestinian voices, a practice they argued has fueled misinformation and undermined accountability. JAA further criticized some South African outlets for accepting state-sponsored trips to Israel without disclosing funding sources, accusing them of engaging in propaganda rather than independent reporting.
Emotional and Symbolic Acts
A powerful moment came when Palestinian journalist Aziz Bakr read the final words of Anas al-Sharif, one of the journalists killed in the airstrike, leaving the crowd deeply moved. In addition, 25 veteran South African journalists signed a solidarity letter directed at the South African government and the Israeli embassy, pressing for urgent action.
Protesters’ Demands
The marchers outlined clear demands:
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The release of detained Palestinian journalists in Gaza and the West Bank.
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An end to Israel’s media blackout.
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Unrestricted access for international correspondents into Gaza.
The Human Cost
Since October 2023, 269 journalists have been killed in Gaza, according to figures from Al Jazeera, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), and the Palestinian database Shireen.ps. Protesters warned that continued silence from the international community would embolden further violations against journalists.
A Call for Global Solidarity
The Cape Town march underscored a growing international outcry against attacks on press freedom in Gaza. For South African journalists, the demonstration was both an act of solidarity with their Palestinian counterparts and a demand for accountability, reinforcing the principle that journalists must never be treated as targets of war.
Sources:
https://english.news.cn/20250818/166ed2f8ca8e4ba3b9f9faf06ce56abf/c.html
Photo: People attend a protest march led by South African journalists and media workers in Sea Point, Cape Town, South Africa, on Aug. 17, 2025. (Photo by Shakirah Thebus/Xinhua)
