In a statement sent to Reuters and AFP, the Israeli military announced that it could not guarantee the safety of journalists in Gaza. The IFJ joins its Palestinian affiliate, the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate (PJS), in condemning this statement and recalling that international law requires all belligerents to protect civilians, especially journalists.
The Israeli military told the international news organisations Reuters and Agence France Presse on 27 October that it could not guarantee the safety of their journalists working in Gaza, which has been under Israeli bombardment and siege for almost three weeks.
The IFJ calls on the Israeli government to fully comply with international humanitarian law and international human rights law and to act to prevent the commission of and incitement to all crimes under international law, including war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Article 79 of the Geneva Convention states: “Journalists in war zones shall be treated as civilians and protected as such, provided they take no part in the hostilities”.
The IFJ demands respect for this article, the violation of which would constitute a war crime.
The IFJ also notes that communication with Gaza – particularly access to the internet – has often been unavailable, violating the fundamental human right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Anthony Bellanger, IFJ General Secretary, said: “Those who wage war must respect international law, however horrific armed conflict may be, however deadly it may become for civilians. It is completely unacceptable for the Israeli government to try to absolve itself of its responsibilities under international law by issuing a press release. The right of everyone to have access to information and ideas, affirmed in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, underpins the journalist’s mission. Israel must respect this”.