Canada And 20 Countries Urge Israel To Protect Journalists In Gaza

Gaza refugees. (Twitter/@UNLazzarini)

JAKARTA - Canada along with 20 countries, Friday, issued a joint statement urging protection for journalists in the Gaza Strip and asked Israel to allow foreign media access to the Palestinian enclave.

The statement released by Global Affairs Canada was supported by Australia, Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.

On September 24, in the midst of the High Week of the UN General Assembly, France together with Reporters Without Borders held a special event for the situation of journalists in Gaza. At the end of this event, this statement was supported by 21 countries, "said the statement quoted from Antara and referred from Anodelu.

Supporting countries emphasize that they have met with civil society groups to discuss the protection of journalists in Gaza and access to information.

Without directly mentioning Israel, the statement stated: "We pay tribute to the journalists who were killed and injured in Gaza while carrying out their duties."

The statement also demands that the protection of journalists be guaranteed in accordance with international humanitarian law.

"We call on Israeli authorities to allow journalists who wish to leave the Gaza Strip and open access to independent foreign media into Gaza," the statement added.

More than 245 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, according to media regulatory agencies. The Israeli military has killed more than 65,500 Palestinians, mostly women and children, since October 2023. Air and ground attacks for months left much of Gaza uninhabitable and pushed residents to the brink of starvation.