Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has strongly criticised Israel for its alleged efforts to label Palestinian journalists in Gaza as “terrorists.” Thibaut Bruttin, RSF’s Director-General, voiced the organisation’s deep concern during a visit to Geneva, highlighting what he described as a troubling trend in the ongoing conflict.
“We’re seeing Israeli defence forces trying to portray Palestinian journalists as terrorists. So we’re very worried about that trend too,” Bruttin said. He also condemned the deaths of journalists in Gaza, where intense Israeli attacks have been ongoing since October 7, 2023.
Bruttin described the challenges faced by Palestinian journalists, noting that Gaza remains closed to the international press. Coverage of the conflict heavily depends on local journalists, who are simultaneously civilians under threat and professionals at risk of being targeted. “It’s quite unprecedented,” Bruttin said, adding that silencing these journalists could severely obstruct the reporting of the conflict.
The RSF chief accused Israel of failing to protect journalists and alleged deliberate targeting. “Not only have they not been able to protect them, but also we have good reasons to believe that a fair amount of the about 140 journalists that have been killed have been deliberately killed, have been targeted,” he said.
Bruttin also criticised Israel for what he described as an evolution in its stance toward journalists. “In the past we had responses which were not satisfying from Israeli defence forces but still they were trying to pretend that they were abiding by international standards in terms of protection of the press.”
“Today, now they’re outrageously lying and trying to portray journalists in Gaza as terrorists,” he said.
The situation for journalists in Gaza is dire, with Bruttin noting exhaustion and severe shortages of basic necessities such as food, water, and electricity. Despite these challenges, journalists continue their work, which Bruttin said is vital to documenting the realities of the conflict.
He acknowledged the specific dangers of the Gaza conflict while drawing parallels to previous wars, such as the Iraq War, which claimed the lives of hundreds of journalists. He called for international pressure on Israel to uphold the safety of journalists and change its policies.
RSF’s condemnation adds to growing concerns over the safety of media professionals in conflict zones and the broader implications for press freedom globally.
