Khatabi Calls for an Independent and Transparent International Investigation Following the Ongoing Targeting of the Palestinian Press Corps by the Occupation

Sada News - The Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League, Head of the Media and Communication Sector, Ahmed Rashid Khatabi, called for an independent and transparent international investigation into the bombing of the Nasser Medical Complex by Israeli occupation forces and the martyrdom of innocent members of relief, ambulance crews, and journalists from Arab and international institutions, noting that this constituted a strong shock to the living consciences and human rights and media organizations, both Arab and international.

Khatabi pointed to the catastrophic situation in the Gaza Strip and the continued military escalation, the persistence of the Israeli occupation, and the killing of civilians, as well as the destruction of what remains of buildings and social and medical facilities.

He affirmed that this heinous incident - the bombing of the Nasser Medical Complex - has once again shown the world that the Israeli occupation authorities, through this systematic targeting, are deliberately attempting to obscure the horrific humanitarian truths in the besieged sector, especially after classifying its afflicted residents according to international standards as being in a state of famine, thus intensifying the implementation of policies of siege, displacement, starvation, and repeated mass exodus, without any regard for the laws of war and the rules of international humanitarian law, which have become subject to real accountability in light of the tragic repercussions of this unequal war.

He stated that the Arab League, which condemned this aggression in the strongest terms, has strongly demanded breaking the global silence regarding the atrocities occurring in the sector in an unprecedented manner, where the number of victims working in the journalistic and media field has reached 244, which exceeds the total of major wars witnessed in contemporary history.

He added that these heinous acts against the Palestinian media body necessitate, without delay, conducting an independent and transparent international investigation, and that the relevant professional organizations, starting with the International Federation of Journalists, must move towards working to protect and support Palestinian journalists, and undertake the necessary efforts to enable non-Palestinian journalists to enter the Gaza Strip.

Khatabi continued: This aggressive act adds to a horrific record of arrests, restrictions, and violations that have affected, over decades of hardship, Palestinian journalists who believed in the nobility of the message of free media committed to conveying the truth, in a perilous environment with a high degree of selflessness and sacrifice of their most precious possession, which is their lives.

He concluded by saying: The war on the Gaza Strip and the ongoing targeting of journalists and media professionals confirm the urgent need for tangible solidarity with Palestinian media, and the establishment of clear and regulated legal mechanisms to implement the provisions of agreements related to the protection of civilians, including journalists performing their duties during wars and armed conflicts, especially the international convention on the safety of journalists and media professionals.