Gaza city: The Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate strongly condemned, on Tuesday, the assassination of journalist Mohammad Samir Washah, a correspondent for Al Jazeera Mubasher, who was killed after a civilian vehicle was targeted in Gaza City.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the Syndicate stated that this crime constitutes an 'extrajudicial execution of journalism and truth,' emphasizing that the targeting of Washah was not an isolated incident but part of a systematic campaign by the occupation to silence the Palestinian voice and target journalists to obscure the truth and undermine the Palestinian narrative.
The statement highlighted that this crime marks a dangerous and systematic escalation against Palestinian journalists, increasing the number of those killed to 262, which reflects the deliberate targeting of Palestinian media.
The Syndicate also mourned the deaths of journalists Ghada Al-Dayekh and Suzan Khalil in Lebanon, viewing this as an extension of the policy of targeting journalists globally and a dangerous expansion in the scope of violations.
It emphasized that targeting journalists while performing their professional duties is a blatant violation of international law and humanitarian norms, equating it to a declaration of an open war on the media.
The Syndicate held the occupation authorities fully and directly responsible for these crimes, labeling them war crimes that warrant international prosecution. It called for an immediate, transparent international investigation, urgent protection for journalists, accountability for those responsible, an end to impunity, and a halt to the systematic targeting of Palestinian media.
In conclusion, the Syndicate extended its deepest condolences to the family of Washah, his colleagues, and the families of all fallen journalists, affirming that such crimes will not deter journalists from carrying out their mission.
