Union of Journalists: Crimes of Hebrew Media Documented with Incitement Against Palestinian Journalists Will be Presented to the World and International Courts

SadaNews - The Palestinian Journalists' Union confirmed that since October 7, 2023, the Israeli media scene has witnessed a wide escalation in its rhetoric against Palestinian journalists and civilian populations in the Gaza Strip, where Hebrew media played a direct role in inciting targeted attacks against Palestinian journalists and disseminating narratives aimed at dehumanizing Palestinian civilians. The methods of incitement included branding journalists as terrorists, defaming them, legitimizing killings, in addition to controlling access of independent media to conflict areas.

The union revealed through a press report by the Committee on Press Freedoms that international reports and local investigations indicate that the Israeli army, in coordination with Hebrew media, resorted to falsely linking Palestinian journalists with armed factions as a step to justify targeting them. In this context, +972 Magazine documented the existence of a military unit specializing in providing misleading information about Palestinian journalists to justify airstrikes and field attacks. Among the prominent victims falsely branded as belonging to armed factions were journalists Hamza al-Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuriya, who were martyred on January 7, 2024, while carrying out their field journalistic work.

The report illustrated documented facts and examples such as how Channel 14 contributed significantly to spreading incitement rhetoric, where anchor Shimon Riklin expressed his wishes for further destruction of infrastructure in Gaza, while anchor Kati Shitrit stated that if she were in a decision-making position, she would wipe out Gaza, and journalist Dani Neumann called for the killing of one hundred thousand Palestinians during the first two days of any attack. Meanwhile, Channel 13 (News 13) broadcast reports falsely accusing Palestinian journalists of belonging to armed groups, while journalist Tsvika Yachzkel directly incited the targeting and killing of Palestinian journalists.

The report pointed out incidents such as the appearance of other media figures in field coverage carrying weapons, such as Eli Aviv from Channel 14, and Dani Kashmaro from Channel 12, who participated in coverage that involved the bombing of a house and considered it a journalistic achievement. These practices enhanced the image of the media as a participant in the war rather than just a carrier of events.

Regarding Hebrew newspapers, the report showed how Israel Hayom adopted an extremist discourse supportive of Israeli government policies, where journalists published phrases considered by observers as incitement, such as stating that Palestinians deserve painful death. Makor Rishon, under the leadership of Hagai Segal, played a similar role in supporting hate speech against Palestinians, while websites like Ynet, Walla, and Maariv reposted army narratives without scrutiny, falsely accusing Palestinian journalists of belonging to armed factions.

The report also warned of institutional restrictions on media coverage that accompanied this incitement, where military censorship imposed strict restrictions on broadcasting, and the military escorts for foreign media had complete control over what coverage was permissible, while foreign journalists were barred from independent entry, according to reports from the Foreign Press Association.

The report summarized the direct field impacts resulting from this violation-inducing climate, as dozens of Palestinian journalists were martyred while performing their work, the latest being five journalists in the bombing of Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, while others faced smear campaigns before being targeted, as happened with journalist Anas Al-Sharif.

Mohammed Al-Laham, head of the Freedoms Committee in the Journalists' Union, stated that these events confirm that Hebrew media has not only acted as a carrier of events but has turned into an active partner in inciting the killing of Palestinian civilians through visual and written platforms that work to legitimize targeting journalists and obscuring independent narratives. This report serves as documented journalistic material for publication and dissemination, and as an initial basis for legal and rights usage before international institutions, where Al-Laham confirmed that the union will work with regional and international federations to publish a black list documenting the names of Israeli journalists and their media institutions worldwide as well as approaching the International Criminal Court and all courts that allow such legislative action.