Sixty press freedom groups and journalists’ associations have signed an open letter calling on the European Union to take action against Israel for violating media freedom.
The joint letter was organized by the Committee to Protect Journalists and warns that Israel has killed more than 100 journalists in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
The letter also accuses the Israel Defense Forces of targeting and killing at least five journalists; another ten deaths are under investigation.
The panel also condemns the ban on access to independent media in the Gaza Strip and warns that 49 journalists and media workers have been arrested by Israel since October 7.
“The cumulative effect of these abuses is to create the conditions for an information vacuum”
The letter accuses the Israeli government of censorship and internet shutdowns, as well as the destruction or damage of more than 50 media offices in the Gaza Strip.
CPJ called for the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement (which forms the basis for trade relations) and further targeted sanctions, and urged European leaders to publicly call on Israel to stop its attacks on the media.
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The letter states: “Journalists play an indispensable role in documenting and reporting on war crimes and other human rights violations. The cumulative effect of these abuses is to create the conditions for an information vacuum and for propaganda and misinformation and disinformation.”
“While Israel claims that its measures are aimed at ensuring the security of its people, history shows that censorship and denial of the right to information are not a sure path to peace and security.”
Signatories to the CPJ letter include: Index on Censorship, Human Rights Watch, the Rory Peck Trust, Reporters Without Borders, and numerous European journalists’ unions (but not the UK’s National Union of Journalists).
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