Amid ongoing wars, 104 journalists and media workers have been killed globally so far in 2024 with more than half of them perishing during the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, according to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) on Tuesday.
What Is the IFJ Saying?
On Tuesday, the IFJ announced that since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, 2023, at least 138 journalists have lost their lives, with 55 Palestinian media professionals among the victims recorded this year alone.
The situation for journalists worldwide continues to deteriorate, and IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger called attention to the growing threats to media workers.
“These sad figures show once again how fragile is press freedom and how risky and dangerous is the profession of journalism,” Bellanger said.
He emphasized the critical role of journalism in an era when authoritarian regimes are gaining ground globally.
“The public’s need for information is very real at a time when authoritarian regimes are developing all over the world,” Bellanger said.
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Compounding the danger is the rise in journalist imprisonments. The IFJ highlighted a sharp increase in detained journalists, noting 520 are currently behind bars, up from 427 last year. China and Hong Kong were noted as leading offenders, together detaining 135 journalists.
With fatalities already nearing 2023’s total of 129, the IFJ anticipates that the year-end numbers could surpass last year’s figures.
What’s Happening in Israel-Hamas War
The Israel-Hamas conflict erupted last year when Iran-backed Hamas-led militants breached Israel’s security fence, killing around 1,200 people and abducting approximately 250 others. Israel’s offensive in Gaza has since resulted in the deaths of over 45,600 Palestinians, according to health authorities.
The ongoing violence has posed increasing risks for media personnel covering the escalating conflict in the region. In October, an airstrike by the Israeli military killed three television journalists, according to Lebanon’s state news.
News station Al Jadeed aired footage showing collapsed buildings and dust-covered cars marked “PRESS” after an Israeli strike hit a complex of chalets rented by various media outlets.
The Beirut-based Al-Mayadeen TV reported that two of its journalists were killed in the Israeli airstrike, while Al-Manar TV—an outlet affiliated with Hezbollah—confirmed the death of its camera operator. The strike occurred in Lebanon’s Hasbaya region, an area that had largely been spared from the border conflict until now.
According to news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP), the hotel was providing accommodation for 18 media staff from at least seven networks including Al Jazeera, MTV and Sky News.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
