RSF proves Israel 'deliberately' killed journalists: Call to 'fight against impunity'
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israel for the 'deliberate' targeting of journalists in Gaza. RSF has declared to the court that it has 'evidence' that journalists were killed.
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Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has submitted its fourth complaint to the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding war crimes committed by the Israeli military in Gaza. RSF announced the filing of the complaint by writing, 'Protecting journalists begins with the fight against impunity.'
RSF's Director of Advocacy and Assistance, Antoine Bernard, stated the following on the matter:
'RSF is submitting its fourth complaint to the ICC for crimes committed by Israel against journalists in Gaza. Our colleagues are being slaughtered at an unprecedented rate, with more than 130 journalists killed by the Israeli military over the past year. We have been able to establish reasonable grounds for deliberate targeting in nine new cases of death. As long as these murders go unpunished, there will be no reason for the perpetrators to stop. Protecting Gaza's journalists begins with the fight against impunity. We call on the ICC prosecutor to examine these complaints as a matter of priority and urgency and to take action on them. Without Gaza's journalists, we will lose access to information about the situation in Gaza. Protect them now!'
RSF submitted its first complaint on November 1, 2023. The second complaint was submitted on December 22, and the third on May 27, 2024. Following the first two complaints, the office of ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan assured RSF that crimes committed against journalists would be examined as part of the ongoing investigation into the situation in Palestine.
Since 2018, RSF's work has been instrumental in encouraging ICC investigations into crimes committed against journalists.
Considering the scale of what has occurred, RSF decided to file a fourth complaint on September 24, 2024. RSF has documented intent in attacks targeting nine journalists between December 2023 and September 2024; in the documented incidents, Israel killed eight journalists and wounded one.
'UNPRECEDENTED SLAUGHTER'
One of the nine victims, Shams News reporter Muhammad Mahmoud Abu Sharia, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on July 1, 2024, while working near his home. Seven other civilians also lost their lives in the airstrike.
Al Jazeera reporters Ismail al-Ghoul and Rami al-Rifi were targeted and killed while on duty on July 31, 2024. RSF published an investigative report examining Israel's justifications for the crime and the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Eighteen days later, two rounds fired from an Israeli tank killed freelance journalist Ibrahim Muhareb while he was reporting and wearing his press vest.
According to RSF, the attack continued with such intensity that Muhareb's body could not be recovered until the following night. Another journalist was also wounded by gunfire but survived the attack.
ISRAEL DID NOT RESPOND TO EVIDENCE
When questioned by RSF about the events, the Israeli military merely stated that the incident did not happen as described by RSF and refused to provide further explanation.
According to the report, other victims include brothers Ayman and Ibrahim Muhammad al-Gharbawi, two photojournalists who were killed in a deliberate drone strike on April 27, 2024.
The organization's in-depth investigation enabled it to establish reasonable grounds that Palestine TV reporter Muhammad Abu Hatab and Al-Istiqlal reporter Muhammad Nasr Abu Huwaidi were killed as targets of deliberate Israeli attacks on November 2 and December 23, 2023, respectively.
RSF DEMANDS ISRAEL BE PROSECUTED
Journalists are calling on the ICC to investigate these crimes as a priority. Furthermore, the organization is demanding an investigation into the killing of more than 130 journalists by Israeli forces in Gaza since October 7 (32 of whom were targeted while working).
In its announcement, RSF included the following statement:
'Above all, RSF calls on the ICC prosecutor to bring charges against the perpetrators identified by their investigations.'
RSF's complaints are based on extensive research gathered by its reporters and other sources on the ground, despite the blockade and severe communication problems affecting Gaza. This research process took into account various content, including videos, testimonies, and online documents.