The Journalist Support Committee condemns the ongoing targeting of journalists in Gaza and the West Bank by the occupation

The Journalist Support Committee strongly condemned Israeli soldiers' assault on Palestinian journalists covering events in Gaza and the West Bank, wounding three journalists with bullets and gas bombs.

The Chairman of the Committee Mr. Saleh al-Masri stated that the occupation fired shots and gas bombs at the journalists covering the return marches, wounding three colleagues journalists:

• Anatolia Agency photographer Ali Jadallah, injured by shrapnel in his arm
• journalist Hashim Saudi correspondent in Gaza
• Isma'il Abu Omar Masal al-Aqsa radio wounded by a gas grenade in the east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.
• Several journalists were also injured as a result of inhaling toxic gases fired by Israeli soldiers at demonstrators in the return marches.

Mr. Saleh condemned the Israeli soldiers' assault on Palestinian journalists in efforts to prevent them from covering the weekly marches in the village of Kafr Qaddum, east of Qalqilya.

Al-Masri declared that the occupation forces assaulted journalists, including Palestinian cameraman Mohammed Aniyat, photojournalists Nidal Ashtia, works in the Chinese agency and Jafar Ashtia, a photographer of AFP.

On the other hand, the Chairman of the Committee welcomed UN Human Rights Council's condemnation of Israel's deliberate use of "lethal force" and other methods of excessive force "against civilian demonstrators in the Gaza Strip, especially civilians, journalists, paramedics and children.

Al-Masry called for practical measures to exert pressure on the occupation to cease its repeated attacks against journalists and the need to provide protection and adequate environment for their work in the light of international conventions and covenants that guarantee the right to freedom of movement and coverage.

The Council adopted a resolution on the assumption of responsibility put forward by Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and approved by 23 countries, opposed by eight States and 15 abstentions.

The UN Committee stressed that there is no justification for the Israeli army to kill and injure persons who pose no direct threat, including journalists, paramedics and children. Snipers killed 32 children, three paramedics, two journalists wearing a flak jacket and a press helmet, and fired at defenseless protesters, children, disabled people, paramedics and journalists who were only performing their duty. The Human Rights Council is an international body of the United Nations system, composed of 47 States responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights throughout the world.

Journalist Support Committee
22 March 2019