As conflicts continue to brew, journalism is now more important than ever to keep up with ongoing developments in a rapidly changing world.
Nevertheless, the profession has been getting steadily more dangerous by the day, as data and research on the matter clearly demonstrates the perils of the job.
According to a report by UNESCO published in 2021, a journalist has been killed every four days, on average, since the early 2010s.
What is most alarming in the report is that the overwhelming majority of crimes committed against journalists go unpunished.
“Impunity for crimes against journalists continues to prevail, with nine of ten killings remaining unpunished,” the report said.
Amid Israel’s aggression in Palestinian Territories and the illegally blockaded Gaza Strip, its crimes against journalists are under the spotlight, once again.
Since 7 October, at least 27 journalists have been confirmed dead in the ongoing conflict, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
An overwhelming majority were Palestinians – 22 – and most of them were killed in Israel’s relentless bombardment on the Gaza Strip.
At least four Israeli journalists and one Lebanese have also been killed, while eight journalists were injured and nine reported missing or detained, the CPJ said.
It has also documented cases of threats, censorship and killings of family members.
The most recent was the tragedy with Al Jazeera correspondent, Wael Dahdouh, whose entire family including his wife, daughter and son were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza.
Israeli forces have also killed several journalists in the past.
Last year, another Al Jazeera journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, was killed in the Occupied West Bank.
Source : MEMO
