Protect Journalists Reporting on Gaza

A relative mourns Palestinian journalist Akram Al-Shafi'i in January, after he was killed in an Israeli bombardment of the Gaza strip.

AP Photo/Hatem Ali

Israel’s killing and jailing of journalists and censorship of news outlets is horrifying and wrong.

Israel has killed nearly 200 media workers since the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war in the wake of the Hamas terrorist attack on Oct. 7, 2023. Israel is also one of the world’s leading jailers of journalists and has censored news outlets.

These actions undermine press freedom and some violate international law. The U.S., as one of Israel’s closest allies, must make clear that it will not participate in or tolerate atrocities against journalists.

Write a letter to protect journalists in Gaza

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Edit this message so that it is unique to you: Dear Senator/Representative, As your constituent, I write to urge you to publicly DEMAND ACTION from the United States to stop the Israeli military’s ongoing killing of journalists covering the Israel-Gaza war, as well as Israel’s refusal to allow international journalists to enter Gaza. Legitimizing the killing of journalists, as the Israeli government has done with the United States government's support, is NEVER OK. Everyone from heads of state to leading Israeli and American human rights groups to a coalition of Orthodox rabbis has spoken out about the humanitarian crisis in Israel. There is no doubt about the newsworthiness and historical significance of the issue. No matter what you believe about the magnitude of the catastrophe or how blame should be apportioned, we will never know the truth if local journalists keep being killed and international ones keep being banned. It is clear that those in positions of power who have not spoken out — or have not done enough — will be remembered as being on the wrong side of history. I request that you publicly demand the United States stop arming and funding the Israeli military’s attacks on Gaza until it not only stops targeting journalists but takes meaningful measures to protect them and other civilians, and that you support any legislative efforts to accomplish that goal. You should also demand that the United States support independent investigations into the killings of journalists by the Israeli military, so the perpetrators can be brought to justice. If you already have done so, I appreciate your efforts, but request you do even more. Thank you. URLs are not allowed in this message.

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I demanded my representatives speak out and take action against Israel’s slaughter of journalists. Please do the same: https://freedom.press/issues/israelgaza/#stop-killing-palestinian-journalists