The death toll among journalists in the Gaza Strip has reached 227 since the beginning of the Israeli genocide in October 2023, following the martyrdom of Palestinian photojournalist Momen Mohammed Abu Al-Aouf.
Abu Al-Aouf, who contributed to several local and regional media outlets, was killed alongside three paramedics during a humanitarian mission in the eastern area of Gaza City, according to a statement issued by the Government Media Office (GMO) in Gaza.
The GMO strongly condemned “the systematic targeting and assassination of Palestinian journalists” by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF).
It called on the International Federation of Journalists, the Arab Journalists Union, and press freedom organizations worldwide to take a firm stance against what it referred to as “deliberate war crimes against media professionals in Gaza.”
The statement held the Israeli occupation, the US administration, and European governments — including the United Kingdom, Germany, and France — fully responsible for enabling and participating in the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people.
It further urged the international community, legal institutions, and journalist advocacy groups to condemn the targeting of journalists, pressure Israel to halt its attacks, and pursue legal accountability for those responsible for crimes against the press in international courts.
“This is not just a war on Gaza. It is a war on truth, on the right to report, and on those who risk their lives to tell the world what is happening”, the statement read.
Abu Al-Aouf’s martyrdom adds to the mounting toll of media workers killed while reporting under extreme conditions in Gaza, often without safety guarantees, protection, or regard for international laws safeguarding journalists in conflict zones.
Source: Palestinian Information Center
