IFJ and FAJ release report on Israeli targeting of media during recent Gaza war

Missoula, Feb. 23 (Al-Masakin)–International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Federation of Arab Journalists (FAJ) released a 32 page report Friday detailing the results of their joint fact finding Solidarity Mission to Gaza Jan. 22-23. 

The report has confirms Israel targeted media personnel during the recent Gaza war.  The report Justice in the News: A response to Targeting of Media in Gaza found the media was subjected to intimidation, direct military assault, and unlawfully blockaded from Nov.5, 2008 until Israeli ceased hostilities Jan. 18.  The Israeli media has been prohibited from entering Gaza since Oct. 2006.

 

The IFJ’s Secretary General Aidan White demanded an end to “double-talk” on the issue of the Israeli targeting of media and demanded a United Nations investigation into what he called “premeditated and precise” assaults on journalists working there during the conflict.

 

“Here was reckless intimidation of media on a shocking scale that should not go unpunished. If it does, it leaves journalists and media exposed to the threat of attack in any conflict at any time in the future,” Mr. White said at a press conference in Brussels on Friday.

 

The report also condemns the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) for threats and intimidation in their attempts to control the media.

 

The report cites in evidence the Dec. 28 bombing of the Al-Aqsa Television, the Jan. 9 assault on Al-Johara media tower, and the Jan. 15 attack on the Al-Shuroug media tower. 

 

The report demands Israel be held accountable by the interantional community for numerous violation of the Geneva Conventions and U.N. Security Council Resolution 1738 which in 2006 condemed attacks on journalists, media professionals and associated personnel, in armed conflicts, emphasized that intentional attacks on civilians constituted War Crimes, and recalled the Geneva Conventions which obligated states to search for the persons responsible for such attacks and place them on trial in a court of law. 

 

EHC / EHC