IFJ Condemns Israel Actions
- January 17th, 2009
- Posted by Daniel Challis
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) announced on Thursday (15.01.09) that it plans to conduct an investigation into Israeli strikes against media during the current conflict in Gaza.
The latest attack involved a media tower which was hit by Israeli missiles on Thursday…
MEDIA TOWER ROCKED
The media tower hit housed various media organisations in Gaza, including Reuters, Sky News, NBC and Fox News.
Fox News reported two engineers were injured while working for the Fox production company in the Al-Shuroug Tower in the city centre.
An Israel shell reportedly hit the southern side of the 13th floor of the building.
Reuters were promised before the strike that the building was not a target, only to be hit by missiles minutes later.
IFJ reported that two journalists working for Abu Dhabi media outlets were also injured in the attack.
VIOLATION OF PRESS RIGHTS
The IFJ are calling the most recent strike a “deliberate attack†which is putting journalists and others in harms way.
“There have been a string of such actions, and a concerted effort to ban, control and manage media, all of which demands full investigation,†said IFJ General Secretary Aidan White.
The IFJ said firing on journalists was a violation of international law, and it supports a full investigation into the use of military force by Israel against media personnel.
Five journalists have so far been killed in Gaza; that’s a number which the IFJ claims to be a result of attacks on media by Israel.
“This latest attack against the press is irrefutable proof that Israel pursues a clear strategy of intimidating the world media, including by willfully killing and injuring journalists, into desisting from reporting independently on the conflict,” said White.
Israel has also prevented foreign-based journalists from reporting first-hand on its military incursion into Gaza.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called for “greater care and restraint†on behalf of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) in launching their offensives.
“Combined with the ban on international journalists entering Gaza, Israeli strikes are crippling the work of the media,†CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon said on Thursday.
Other organisations have also condemned the recent strikes by the IDF, including the Foreign Press Association which said the Israel military was severely violating press freedom.
Reference:
International Federation of Journalists, ‘IFJ Plans Investigation into Violations of Press Rights after New Assault on Media in Gaza’ (15.01.09), http://www.ifj.org/en/articles/ifj-plans-investigation-into-violations-of-press-rights-after-new-assault-on-media-in-gaza, (16.01.09).
Matti Friedman, Associated Press, ‘Journalists group condemns strike on Gaza media’ (16.01.09), http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i7TlqVT_F1SFhRyNY0IjlMc8tZUwD95NOQLO1, (16.01.09).
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), ‘Another media building hit by Israel fire’ (15.01.09), http://cpj.org/2009/01/another-media-building-hit-by-israeli-fire.php, (16.01.09).
Fox News, ‘Explosion Blasts Media Office in Gaza’ (15.01.09), http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,480009,00.html, (16.01.09).