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7/6 Petition to Biden & U.S. Congress

In the past 24 hours, Israel has murdered 5 journalists in Gaza. Today 7/6, marks another increase in the record breaking number of journalists murdered in any other conflict zone in the world since the CPJ began keeping track. In the first 10 weeks alone of Israel’s genocide more journalists (77) were murdered than in any single country over an entire year period. In comparison, 68 total journalists were killed in 2022 across the entire world. News reporting from conflict zones has always been dangerous, but the risks brave journalists take in Gaza is unlike anything seen before. Israel’s intentional targeting of journalists for death, injury, detainment, censorship, or even cyber attacks is unparalleled. As of 7/6, the CPJ has documented 51 arrests of journalists – 36 of which are still in Israeli military prisons in dire conditions.

The reign of terror against journalists hasn’t been confined to the besieged Gaza strip – journalists throughout occupied Palestine face Israel’s systematic abuse. Journalists in the West Bank are “facing unprecedented threats, assaults, and intimidation to obstruct their vital work covering this conflict,” says CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa program coordinator.

Cyberattacks against news outlets reporting in Gaza since 10/7 have escalated to never before seen levels, all the way from the agency-level like the 11/11 attack on the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate’s website, to individual journalists like Plestia Alaqad, whose Instagram has been a frequent target for hackers.

Censorship of news reporting in Gaza has taken a myriad of forms from “unofficial” means previously described, to official laws passed by Israel to block news outlets like Al Jazeera and any other outlet deemed to pose “a threat”. This administration has followed suit in censorship, from direct threats to news agencies like Reuters, CNN, and the New York Times late December 2023, to the House of Representatives voting to bar the State Department from citing official death tolls published by Gaza’s Ministry of Health.

Journalists are not a target. The freedom of the press is supposed to be one of the unshakeable pillars of our democracy. Unfortunately, none of this comes as a surprise anymore. After the Supreme Court’s recent disturbing ruling making the president above our laws, this administration and every following one has been given carte blanche for all crimes.

I demand that you: 

– Hold Israel accountable for a permanent, immediate ceasefire, their violations of the Genocide Convention, and gross human rights violations by any means necessary

– Call for the immediate end of Israel’s occupation and apartheid and support Palestinians in their fight for freedom and peace

– Secure the immediate release and safety of all Palestinians who have been abducted and held captive by Israel, including those whose indefinite detention began prior to 10/7

SOURCES

Al Jazeera 7/6 Live Updates

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) “Israel-Gaza War“

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) “Israel-Gaza war takes record toll on journalists“

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) “Attacks, arrests, threats, censorship: The high risks of reporting the Israel-Gaza war“

The New Republic “House Republicans Pass Draconian Measure Censoring Public Data“

The New Republic “The Supreme Court Turns the President Into a King“

For more on the U.S. government’s threats against news outlets reporting on Gaza, see prior petitions “PROTECT THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS & FREE PALESTINE” and “MURDERING JOURNALISTS IS A WAR CRIME – CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE NOW“