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.
"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.