I’lam: Media Center for Arab Palestinians in Israel condemns the Israeli military operation in Gaza and mourns the loss of innocent lives, including journalists.

I’lam demands the immediate halt of all persecution and assaults on journalists and media institutions in Gaza, the West Bank and inside Israel after the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip that started on Wednesday, November 14. I’lam calls on the international community to work for the protection of journalists in all regions of Israel/Palestine.

I’lam calls on fellow journalists in the Israeli media to commit to professional standards by taking an impartial position instead of devotedly echoing the official military statements.

With the start of the latest Israeli military offensive on Gaza that began last Wednesday, November 14, several cases of attacks on journalists and media professionals were recorded.

On November 14, the house of the BBC journalist, Jihad Mashharawi, was targeted with a direct hit, killing his 11 months old son and his sister in law.

Last Friday, the house of Ali Ibrahim, a European Agency photographer, was targeted, wounding his father, his sister and her daughter (8 years). On the same day, Israeli forces targeted the headquarters of the Free Media association in Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza, which caused severe damages to the building.

On Sunday, Israeli warplanes shelled the Shawa – Hosry Towers in Gaza. These buildings are known to be a media center that contains a number of press offices (including Al-Arabiya and Russia Today). Three rockets led to a direct hit to the sixth floor, injuring 6 journalists, the majority working for Al-Quds TV, in addition to causing severe damage to the building.

 

 

The most devastating attack on journalists was the killing of two cameramen from Al-Aqsa TV, Mohamed al-Kaoumi and Hossam Salameh, and executive director of Al-Quds Educational Radio, Mohammed Moussa Abu Eisah, as Israeli warplanes shelled their cars in two separate incidents on Tuesday.