The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has awarded its World Press Freedom Prize on Thursday to all Palestinian journalists covering the conflict in Gaza, where Israel has been bombing the besieged enclave for over six months.
Mauricio Weibel, chair of the international jury of media professionals, stated, “In these times of darkness and hopelessness, we wish to share a strong message of solidarity and recognition to those Palestinian journalists who are covering this crisis in such dramatic circumstances,” said Mauricio Weibel, chair of the international jury of media professionals.”
“As humanity, we have a huge debt to their courage and commitment to freedom of expression,” he added.
Audrey Azoulay, director general at the UN organisation for education, science, and culture, highlighted that the prize pays tribute to the journalists’ courage in facing difficult and dangerous circumstances.
According to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), at least 97 members of the press have been killed since the war broke out in October, with 92 being Palestinians.
The present conflict began with an October 7 attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.
Israel reports that 129 captives seized by militants during their attack remain in Gaza, with the military confirming the deaths of 34 of them.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has led to the deaths of at least 34,596 people in Gaza, primarily women and children, according to the Palestine Health Ministry.