PALESTINIAN MEDIA BODY CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION INTO ISRAEL’S TARGETING OF JOURNALISTS

Khaled Hamad, one of journalists killed in the latest Israeli strikes on Gaza. Photo: Archive
Khaled Hamad, one of journalists killed in the latest Israeli strikes on Gaza. Photo: Archive

Gaza, 10 Dhulqo’dah 1435/5 August 2014 (MINA) – The Palestinian General Federation of Private Radio and Television Stations said on Thursday that the Israeli army killed seven media reporters during the month of August, bringing the total number of journalists killed during Israel’s war on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to 17.

In a statement, the Federation called to form international committees to investigate Israel’s targeting of journalists and media workers in the Palestinian territories, according to Middle East Monitor reports quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Anadolu news agency quoted the Federation’s statement as saying that: “During its war on the Gaza Strip in August alone, the Israeli occupation killed another seven journalists, including Italian photographer Simone Camilli, and wounded 15 others, including 12 during the suppression of peaceful rallies in the occupied West Bank.”

The statement pointed out that last month, the Israeli army arrested two journalists and summoned three others, including Moath Hamid, a cameraman who works for Anadolu news agency in the West Bank.

Furthermore, Israeli warplanes shelled four media headquarters in the Gaza Strip, destroying them completely and partially destroying several other media offices due to the bombing of nearby sites, including the office of Anadolu news agency in Gaza City.

In addition to the above destruction, “The Israeli army demolished the homes of nine Palestinian journalists in the Gaza Strip.”

The Federation demanded the formation of a special committee to compensate journalists and media outlets that were destroyed by the Israeli bombardment.

It also stressed the need to provide protection for Palestinian journalists during their coverage of the Israeli army’s aggressive activities in the occupied Palestinian territories.(T/R04/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)