Amnesty International Australia condemns the continued attacks on journalists, including Al Jazeera and their offices and the shocking raid on the Ramallah office last week, and its issue of a court order for its closure for 45 days.
Mohamed Duar, Amnesty International Australia’s Occupied Palestinian Territory Spokesperson, says
“Israel’s blatant targeting of journalists is a clear violation of international human rights and humanitarian law. Journalists are civilians and are protected by international law. They play a crucial role in documenting and exposing human rights abuses.
“No journalist should ever be targeted or killed simply for carrying out their work. Israel must not be allowed to kill and deliberately attack journalists with impunity.
“The crisis in Gaza has reached unprecedented levels of danger for journalists, with over 116 killed according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). The Occupied Palestinian Territory has become one of the most dangerous places on Earth for journalists.
“With international media, including Al Jazeera, silenced, our capacity to witness and report on human rights violations and war crimes is severely compromised.
“The killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh by an Israeli forces’ sniper in 2022 remains unpunished, illustrating the dire need for accountability. We call for the protection of journalists under international humanitarian law and demand that those responsible for these attacks be held to justice.
“Journalists are, and should never be, targets.”
Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, said:
“The Israeli authorities’ shutdown of Al Jazeera’s office in Ramallah is another shameless attack on the right to freedom of expression and a crushing blow for press freedom.
“Amid escalating violations of international law, including through military operations in the occupied West Bank and relentless unlawful attacks in the occupied Gaza Strip with the real risk of genocide, access for journalists to shed light on ongoing events is crucial. The shutdown of Al Jazeera’s office in Ramallah is a brazen attempt by the Israeli government to limit reporting on their violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.
“This move clearly illustrates the extreme lengths to which Israeli authorities are prepared to go in order to shield themselves from critical media coverage and public scrutiny. All journalists must have the right to carry out their work freely and safely without fearing arrest, harassment, intimidation or any other form of reprisals.
Amnesty International urges the authorities to immediately revoke the order to shut down Al Jazeera bureau, end their harassment, intimidation and obstruction of journalists and other media workers in the occupied Palestinian Territory in accordance with international humanitarian and human rights law.
Background
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 116 journalists and other media workers have been killed since 7 October 2023 making it the deadliest period for journalists since CPJ began gathering data in 1992.
This is not the first time that Israeli authorities shut down Al-Jazeera offices. In May 2024, Israeli forces raided Al Jazeera’s office in occupied East Jerusalem. The decision was under a then-new law known as “Al Jazeera Law” that authorized the telecommunications minister, with Prime Minister’s approval, to take repressive action against foreign media that broadcast content deemed to pose a threat to national security during the war on Gaza. The office remains closed due to the Israeli authorities’ continuous extension of the order.
Israel has continued its relentless attacks on journalists. In 2022, Al Jazeera journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh was killed by Israeli forces while reporting on an Israeli raid in the West Bank city of Jenin. Since then, Israel has deliberately targeted and killed numerous journalists including Samer Abudaqa
Anas Al Sharif, another Al Jazeera journalist, lost his father in an Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza. His 65-year-old father was killed when their home in the Jabalia refugee camp was struck. Al Jazeera condemned Israel’s blatant intimidation and incitement against Al Sharif, while the CPJ expressed deep concerns about his safety.
Several Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza have lost family members in Israeli strikes over the past two months including Wael Dahdouh, Mohamed Abu Al-Qumsan and Moamen Al Sharafi.
To date, no one has been held accountable for the deaths of journalists or journalists’ family members, continuing the impunity of Israeli forces.
