The Israeli army: We cannot guarantee the safety of journalists in Gaza
The Israeli army told the international news agencies, Reuters and Agence France-Presse that it cannot guarantee the safety of their journalists working in the Gaza Strip, which has been subjected to Israeli bombing and siege for nearly three weeks.
The Hamas-run Gaza Strip has been bombed since October 7, after Hamas militants stormed southern Israel and killed about 1,400 people.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza says that about 7,000 people died due to the Israeli air strikes.
The Israeli army wrote a letter to Reuters and Agence France Presse this week after requesting guarantees that Israeli strikes would not target their journalists in Gaza.
“The IDF targets all Hamas military activities along Gaza,” the Israeli army’s letter stated.
The letter added that Hamas deliberately carries out military operations in close proximity to journalists and civilians.
The Israeli army also said that its intensified strikes on Hamas targets may damage surrounding buildings, and that Hamas rockets may also be launched incorrectly, killing people inside Gaza.
The IDF’s letter concluded by saying, “Under these circumstances, we cannot guarantee the safety of your employees, and we strongly urge you to take all necessary measures for their safety”.
Hamas didn’t immediately comment when asked about the Israeli army’s allegations that it carried out military operations near where journalists were located in Gaza.
Meanwhile it’s not possible to know how many news agencies, or media organizations operating in Gaza who received the same message from the Israeli army.
The Israeli army didn’t immediately provide a comment.
Reuters and Agence France-Presse said they were deeply concerned about the safety of journalists in Gaza.
Reuters said in a statement in response to receiving the letter, “The situation on the ground is horrific, and the Israeli army’s unwillingness to provide guarantees for the safety of our teams threatens their ability to report news of this conflict without fear of injury or death”.
The Committee to Protect Journalists said that at least 27 journalists have been killed since the war began, most of them in Gaza, but some also died in Israel and southern Lebanon.
The committee’s latest data stated that 38 Palestinian journalists, four Israelis and one Lebanese were killed as of Friday, October 27.
Reuters cameraman Issam Abdullah was killed and six other journalists were injured in southern Lebanon on October 13 when they were hit by missiles fired from the direction of Israel.
