Israel-Palestine Escalation
Israel was hit by an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on October 7, with Hamas movement's troops infiltrating border areas. On October 8, the Israeli government announced that it had invoked Article 40 of the Basic Law, which means the country was officially in a state of war.

Israel's Operation in Gaza Becomes Deadliest Conflict for Journalists, UN Experts Say

© Photo Mahmoud MazloumPalestinian correspondent Muhammad Abu Khattab funeral, Gaza Strip
Palestinian correspondent Muhammad Abu Khattab funeral, Gaza Strip - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 02.02.2024
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MOSCOW (Sputnik) - More than 120 journalists and media workers have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the start of the current round of the Israeli-Hamas conflict on October 7, 2023. Many were targeted by Israeli forces despite wearing press vests or driving marked vehicles.
Israel’s ongoing military operation against the Palestinian movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip has become the deadliest conflict for journalists in recent history, with over 122 journalists and media workers killed in the enclave since October 7, UN experts said on Thursday.
"We are alarmed at the extraordinarily high numbers of journalists and media workers who have been killed, attacked, injured and detained in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly in Gaza, in recent months blatantly disregarding international law," the experts said in a statement released by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
UN data show that more than 122 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza, and many others have been injured, in addition to three journalists killed in Lebanon and four Israeli reporters killed by Hamas in the 7 October attacks. Moreover, dozens of Palestinian journalists have been detained both in Gaza and the West bank, the statement read.
Journalists are being attacked despite being "clearly identifiable in jackets and helmets marked 'press' or traveling in well-marked press vehicles," the experts said.
A protester wears a shirt depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attempt during a demonstration to demand the release of the hostages taken by Hamas militants into the Gaza Strip - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 01.02.2024
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"Journalists are entitled to protection as civilians under international humanitarian law. Targeted attacks and killings of journalists are war crimes," the experts said.
Israel must allow journalists to enter Gaza and protects them, as well as all parties to the conflict must ensure a "prompt, independent and impartial investigations into every killing of journalists" in accordance with international norms, the experts said, adding that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC) must pay particular attention to the killings of journalists in the conflict and take steps to put an end to them.
On October 7, 2023, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from Gaza and breached the border, killing 1,200 people and abducting around 240 others. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and started a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Over 26,900 people have been killed so far in the Gaza Strip, local authorities said.
On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1. More than 100 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza.
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