Israel Slammed by Media Watchdog for Attack on Gaza Journalists
Humane Scribes: Journalists help Palestinian boy wounded during Israeli shelling that killed four boys on a Gaza beach. Image by getty images
A respected media watchdog group has slammed Israel for attacks in Gaza that injured three journalists — and called on the Jewish state to show more respect for the right of media outlets to cover the widening war.
Israeli airstrikes hit buildings housing media outlets in Gaza, the Committee to Protect Journalists reported. At least three journalists were injured in the bombings.
“Attacking media outlets is a violation of international law and denies journalists their right to protection as civilians in war zone,” CPJ Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator Sherif Mansour said.
On Thursday, Israel ordered foreign journalists to leave beach hotels in Gaza because they would be put in danger from the ground invasion of Gaza.
On Friday, an Israeli helicopter carried out the strike on the eighth floor of the the Al-Jawhara tower in Gaza city. The strike injured cameraman Muhammad Shabat, who worked for a Palestinian news agency. The agency is still operating, despite being forced to shut down two of its production studios.
On Wednesday, an Israeli airstrike hit the Daoud building in Gaza City, which injured Ahmad al-Ajala and Tariq Hamideh of the Sawt al-Watan radio station, which has since shut down.
In 2012, CPJ criticized Israel for attacks that killed three Palestinian journalists in Gaza. Israel claimed the media workers were legitimate targets because they worked for Hamas-aligned media.
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