Written by Michael Thervil
Today marks another sad day that Israel has added to its list of more than 208 journalists that have been killed since journalists have been reporting on Israel's genocidal war on the people of Palestine. Two Palestine Al-Jazeera journalists were killed north of Khan Younis. The fallen journalist was Mohammad Mansour who was killed by Israel as they conducted an airstrike in the area. The second journalist that was killed by Israel was Hussam Shabat; he was killed while sitting in his car. The question that’s being asked by both journalists and journalism advocacy groups around the world is: “when are governments going to start protecting journalists and when are the world's governments going to start holding Israel and any other country accountable for the killing of journalists?”
It was reported by many journalists and humanitarian aid workers that Israel has always targeted journalists but since the war between Israel and Hamas, there has been a hyper-uptick in the number of journalists that Israel has been targeting. Sources stated that both Mohammad Mansour and Hussam Shabat were targets of the Israeli Defense Force (IDF). From the perspective of the IDF, the killing of these journalists can be chalked up to them possibly being in the wrong place at the wrong time or simply a casualty of war (collateral damage). Currently, and as always, Israel denies all claims that they engage in the targeted killing of journalists.
There was a point in time that Israel denied journalists from covering their genocidal war against the people of Gaza and the West Bank. Adding insult to injury, the IDF conducted a raid on live television at an Al-Jazeera network station in the West Bank back in September 2024. Another example is the Israeli led killing of Al-Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh who was shot in the head in May 2022. Shireen Abu Akleh was reporting live from the Jenin Refugee Camp. Another journalist that was accompanying her by the name of Abu Akleh was also shot in the back at the time. It was reported that the IDF denied ambulatory services to both journalists. The IDF stated that she was killed by “indiscriminate gun fire” and instead blamed the Palestinian militants for shooting her at the time the killing took place. Which side is true, it seems the world will never know?
We at VEDA Communications LLC. Condone any killing of journalists whether directly or indirectly. Moreover, we take the position that any perpetrators of any kind of violent acts towards journalists should be met with the full weight of the law. In the case of Israel and it appearing to target journalists in the field – we at VEDA Communications are demanding that the perpetrator of these international crimes be identified and severely punished. Our prayers and condolences go out to both Mohammad Mansour & Hussam Shabat and their families - #PRESSON.
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