21 journalists have died in Gaza and Israel in two weeks

At least 21 journalists have died in Gaza and Israel in just two weeks, more than those killed by media coverage of the conflict in the Middle East in the last two decades, according to data from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).. The worrying data has coincided with the approval of emergency measures by the Israeli Government to promote the closure of the Al Jazeera network, accused of “disseminating pro-Palestinian propaganda”, and threatening other media with actions that “could harm the security of the state.” “, amid growing harsh criticism of the BBC for its coverage.

The first three journalists killed were Israelis, during the Hamas attacks on October 7 that caused at least 1,400 fatalities.. The majority of the deceased information professionals, seventeen in total, are however Palestinians who are among the 3,785 killed in the Israeli air offensive in Gaza. A Lebanese cameraman has died while covering Hezbollah skirmishes on the border with northern Israel.

“Journalists in the region are making great sacrifices to cover this harrowing conflict,” warned Sherif Masour, CPJ's Middle East coordinator.. “All parties must take measures to ensure the safety of professionals, who are civilians doing important work in times of crisis and should not be targeted.”

The lethal count began on October 7 during the Hamas attacks on Israeli soil. Yaniv Zohar, photographer for the newspaper Israel Hayom, was murdered along with his wife and two daughters. The other two deceased were Shai Regev, Culture Director of the Maáriv publication, and Ayelet Arnin, 22, editor of the state channel Kan, who is among the more than 200 victims of the Supernova festival.

Three Palestinian journalists were killed in the bombings launched by Israel on October 9 on the Rimal district, west of Gaza, where several local media outlets were based.. The three were identified as Saeed Al-Taweel, editor-in-chief of the Al-Khamsa news portal; Mohammed Sobh and Hisham Alnwajha, photographer and editor at the Khabar agency.

Assaad Shamlakh, a freelance journalist, also died in the first days of the Israeli offensive when a bomb destroyed his home and also killed his nine family members in Sheikh Ijlin, southern Gaza.. On October 10, Salam Mema, chairwoman of the Committee of Women Journalists at the Palestinian Media Assembly, died.. His lifeless body was recovered three days later among the victims in the Jabalia camp.

In southern Lebanon, a cameraman, Issam Abdallah, who worked for the Reuters agency, died this week, supposedly due to fire coming from Israel.. Eight other journalists have been injured and at least three are missing.. CPJ is also investigating numerous reports of other news professionals detained or threatened, as well as damage caused to media offices or journalists' homes.

CPJ has also warned of the numerous impediments to entering the Gaza Strip since the Hamas attacks.. The only entry point for informants in Erez remains closed, and the only information from the Palestinian side has since come from local journalists.

“Working in Gaza right now is extremely difficult and that is in large part because our staff are not just covering the stories but trying to stay safe and protect their families,” said Julie Pace, executive director of the AP agency.

For its part, Benjamin Netanyahu's government approved emergency measures on Friday to promote the closure of media that “could harm the security of the state.”. The measure is intended to directly facilitate the closure of the Al Jazeera channel, based in Qatar and with great influence in the Arab world.

“The closure of Al Jazeera in Israel comes from evidence that it is assisting the enemy, with propaganda serving Hamas to Arabic and English audiences around the world, as well as the dissemination of sensitive information and useful to our enemies,” read an official statement.

Communications Minister Shlomo Karai went even further and declared that Israel “is in a war on multiple fronts, including information and perception.”. “We are not going to tolerate the media putting the security of our nation at risk,” he warned.. “The measures that are under consideration give us authority to close channels, seize equipment and withdraw credentials from journalists.”

The Israeli authorities have also attacked the BBC for “perpetuating a pattern of blood libel”, for its coverage of the al-Ahli hospital explosion in Gaza and for describing Hamas members as “militants”, but not directly as ” terrorists” (despite emphasizing that the British Government considers them as such). In an interview with British media, Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the BBC's coverage as “atrocious” and asked directly: “What other type of torture do they want to decide that we are dealing with a terrorist organization?”