Israeli Military States It Can’t Ensure Journalists’ Safety in Gaza, According to Reuters

(Reuters) – The Israeli military has informed international news organizations, including Reuters and Agence France Presse, that it cannot ensure the safety of their journalists operating in the Gaza Strip, which has been under bombardment and siege for nearly three weeks.

Gaza, a Palestinian territory controlled by the militant group Hamas, has faced intensive bombardment since October 7, when Hamas militants infiltrated the border into Israel, resulting in approximately 1,400 deaths. According to Gaza’s health ministry, around 7,000 individuals have been killed due to the ongoing Israeli strikes.

This week, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) responded to inquiries from Reuters and AFP seeking assurances about the safety of their journalists in Gaza. The IDF’s correspondence stated, “The IDF is targeting all Hamas military activity throughout Gaza,” and claimed that Hamas has strategically placed military operations near journalists and civilians.

The IDF acknowledged that its airstrikes could inadvertently damage surrounding buildings and noted the potential for misfired Hamas rockets to cause casualties within Gaza. The letter concluded, “Under these circumstances, we cannot guarantee your employees’ safety, and strongly urge you to take all necessary measures for their safety.”

Hamas has not provided an immediate response regarding the IDF’s allegations of positioning military operations near journalists’ locations.

It remains unclear how many other news organizations in Gaza received similar communications from the IDF. The IDF did not provide immediate remarks on the matter.

Both Reuters and AFP expressed grave concerns for the safety of journalists covering the situation in Gaza. “The situation on the ground is dire, and the IDF’s unwillingness to provide assurances about the safety of our staff threatens their ability to report on this conflict without fear of injury or loss of life,” stated Reuters in its response to the IDF letter.

AFP Global News Director Phil Chetwynd echoed these concerns, emphasizing the precarious position of journalists in the field. “It’s crucial for the world to recognize that a substantial team of journalists is operating under extremely dangerous conditions,” he remarked.

The Committee to Protect Journalists has reported that at least 27 journalists have lost their lives since the onset of the conflict, with the majority in Gaza, along with casualties in Israel and southern Lebanon.

A Reuters video journalist was killed, and six other journalists were injured in southern Lebanon on October 13 when missiles reportedly fired from the direction of Israel struck their location, as confirmed by a colleague present at the scene.

As of October 27, the latest update from the Committee to Protect Journalists indicates that 22 Palestinians, four Israelis, and one Lebanese have been killed amid the ongoing hostilities.