The murder of Fátima Hassouna, a photojournalist in Gaza, caused by an Israeli army bombing, has raised the number of journalists killed in the Gaza Strip to 212 since October 7, 2023. This tragic event has generated deep concern and has led to calls for an independent investigation and immediate protection for communicators in the region.
"Her murder raises the number of journalists killed in the Gaza Strip to 212 since October 7, an unprecedented figure in modern conflict history," stated the Palestinian Journalist Protection Center in a statement. It is important to highlight that journalists are civilians, and attacking them constitutes a war crime, as has been repeatedly pointed out every time these tragic events occur.
Equipped only with cameras and unarmed, journalists in Gaza face extremely dangerous situations, being attacked while performing their duty to inform. "The press's blue helmets are filled with blood and silence. The war in Gaza is not only a war against its people, it is a war against the truth," said journalist Motasem A Dalloul in a post shared on social media.
The murder of Fátima Hassouna comes just 10 days after three other journalists were burned alive during an Israeli bombing that targeted a press tent. Despite the gravity of these events, in some parts of the world, such as Argentina, the repercussions do not reflect the magnitude of these crimes. Meanwhile, there is a legal attack on those who denounce the violations committed by the State of Israel.
The number of journalists killed in Gaza while covering the genocide taking place there far exceeds any other previous conflict, including historically significant wars. It is crucial to remember that journalistic work is essential for providing truthful and objective information, and that attacking those who carry out this function is a direct attack on freedom of expression and democracy.
