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By Samuel Asamoah
The African Initiative for Journalism and Media (AfroMedia) has strongly condemned what it describes as the “systematic crimes” committed by Israeli forces against journalists and civilians in Gaza since October 7, 2023, calling on the United Nations to take urgent action.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, AfroMedia accused Israel of deliberately targeting media professionals to suppress reporting on the war’s impact on civilians, warning that the practice undermines international law and human rights protections.
Citing reports from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the group said more than 240 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza in recent months, with dozens more injured or arrested. AfroMedia described the enclave as “the most dangerous place in the world to practice journalism in the 21st century.”
The organization named several slain journalists — including Anas Al-Sharif, Hossam Shabat, Ismail Abu Hatab, and Yahya Sobeih — as victims of what it called “a systematic attempt to silence the truth, conceal crimes against civilians, and manipulate the global narrative.”
AfroMedia argued that such actions violate the Geneva Conventions and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, constituting “full-fledged war crimes” that demand immediate accountability. It said the international community’s inaction is enabling the continuation of these violations.
The group urged the UN to officially condemn the killing of journalists, launch an international investigation through the International Criminal Court, and ensure that independent media teams gain access to Gaza. It also called for logistical support and protective equipment for reporters operating in conflict zones.
AfroMedia warned that the loss of journalists in Gaza is not only a humanitarian tragedy but also a severe blow to press freedom and the public’s right to information. “Defending journalists means defending truth and justice,” the statement read, adding that protecting them is essential to preserving historical records and preventing the distortion of events.
The group called on global media and human rights organizations to show solidarity and pressure Israel to halt what it described as its “war machine” in the besieged territory
