“For journalism to live in Gaza” – appeal by RSF and IFJ from Arab World Institute in Paris
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) issued a solemn appeal to the international community from the Arab World Institute in Paris on 16 February, calling for an end to the slaughter and “for journalism to live in Gaza.”
Brought together by the Paris-based NGO Journalism & Citizenship (J&C) for a day of dialogue between journalists from both shores of the Mediterranean, RSF and IFJ condemned the massacre of Palestinian journalists and appealed to governments and international organisations to put pressure on Israel to end this slaughter.
RSF and IFJ also addressed a series of demands to Israel and its government, including:
● ensuring that journalists are protected in accordance with international humanitarian law and, as a matter of the utmost urgency, giving firm and explicit instruction to the Israeli armed forces to respect these obligations;
● defining safe havens to shelter journalists covering the war from within the Gaza Strip;
● facilitating the delivery of protective gear and professional equipment for journalists who continue to work in and around the war zone.
In their appeal, the two organisations also stressed the urgent need to open the gates of the Rafah border crossing to finally allow the international media’s entry into Gaza and the evacuation of Palestinian journalists who wish to leave.
The reading of the appeal was followed by a minute’s silence for the Palestinian journalists who have been killed and for all journalists who have died while trying to keep us informed.
