Israel has been deliberately targeting journalists in Gaza since the war escalated on 7 October 2023, according to journalist and author Antony Lowenstein, who points to a growing body of evidence documenting attacks on media workers in the occupied Palestinian territory, reports UNB.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Lowenstein referenced recent findings from Brown University’s Cost of War project, which suggest that more journalists have been killed in Gaza in the past six months than in all global conflicts combined over the last 100 years.
“The number of journalists killed in Gaza is greater than that of all conflicts in the last 100 years combined,” he said, describing the figures as indicative of a “deliberate targeting of journalists”.
While countries such as China, Russia and Iran often face intense scrutiny from Western governments and media over press freedom violations, Lowenstein argued that Israel receives disproportionately less condemnation.
“Among Western countries, there is far more interest if China, Russia and Iran target journalists but far less if Israel does,” he noted.
The apparent double standard, according to Lowenstein, exposes a troubling bias within the international media landscape. “The lack of international outrage speaks volumes about how suddenly the press have a hierarchy of who is important, and Palestinians are not top of that list.”
International watchdogs and press freedom organisations have also raised alarm over the growing number of journalist casualties in Gaza. However, calls for accountability have yet to gain serious traction in diplomatic circles.
As the war in Gaza continues, concerns over media freedom, the safety of journalists, and the global response to such crises remain deeply contested.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
