Palestinians mourn local journalists Hassouna Sleem and Sary Mansour, who were killed in an Israeli strike on a house, at a hospital in the central Gaza Strip on November 2023.    (Photo by Reuters)

Berlin, September 16 (RHC)-- A group of nearly 90 journalists in Germany has called for the protection of their colleagues in the Gaza Strip, where more than 170 journalists have been killed by Israel since the start of the regime’s genocidal war against the besieged territory last October.

By setting up the website Protect Journalists in Gaza, the German journalists said in a statement that the attacks on journalists constitute a war crime.  “Nevertheless, the Israeli army continues to kill our colleagues who are clearly identified as media personnel by the labels on their vests and helmets,” the statement added.

The situation for journalists in Gaza is more dangerous than in other parts of the world, it noted.  It also underscored the significance of diversifying sources and ensuring equal cooperation with Palestinian media professionals.

The statement by German journalists highlighted that news reports should critically reflect statements made by all parties involved.  It pointed out that no other conflict zone has been closed to journalists while the occupying Tel Aviv regime has shut off the Gaza Strip to media professionals.

The journalists also criticized German media outlets for parroting Israeli narratives and relying solely on information from the regime’s officials.  They urged mainstream media organizations to be more balanced in their news coverage.

Journalists operating in the Palestinian territory are faced with increased dangers as they report on the conflict amidst Israeli ground assaults and airstrikes, disrupted communications, supply shortages, and power outages.

The regime has been enforcing a near-total siege on the coastal territory, which has reduced the flow of foodstuffs, medicine, electricity, and water into the Palestinian territory to a trickle.

So far during the military onslaught, the regime has killed at least 41,206 Gazans, most of them women and children. Another 95,337 Palestinians have sustained injuries as well.