Gaza: The Government Media Office in Gaza stated on Saturday that the Israeli military operations in Gaza are a “systematic media genocide” targeting journalists and media institutions. The statement, released on the eve of World Press Freedom Day, highlighted the perilous situation faced by journalists, warning that journalists are “being killed live on air.” It contrasted the global celebration of freedom of expression with the reality in Gaza, which it described as being marked by “blood, hunger, tears and ashes.”
According to Jordan News Agency, the office specifically cited the persistent bombing of media offices, journalists’ residences, and broadcast vehicles, leading to the deaths of media professionals and their families. The office’s figures reported that the death toll among journalists since the start of the Israeli war on Gaza reached 212, including reporters, photographers, and editors from local and international organizations.
A further 409 journalists sustained injuries, some resulting in permanent disabilities, and 48 journalists have been arrested, with reports of torture and ill-treatment against them. The statement reported the targeting of 143 media organizations, including print and online newspapers, radio stations, and satellite channels, alongside the destruction of the offices of 12 Arab and international channels.
Additional reported incidents included the destruction of 44 journalists’ homes, the killing of 21 media activists on social media platforms, the bombing of printing presses, the destruction of filming and live broadcasting equipment, and the blocking of numerous digital accounts on grounds described as “violating standards.”
The office estimated the economic damage to the media sector in Gaza at over $400 million, characterizing the actions as “a comprehensive targeting of people, buildings, images, sound, and speech.” The Media Office urged international bodies concerned with press freedom, such as the UN, the Human Rights Council, and Reporters Without Borders, to initiate an independent and transparent investigation into the Israeli violations against the press, provide urgent international protection for media workers, and facilitate unrestricted media coverage in Gaza.