Local journalists in Gaza have been essential to informing the world about the war. With international reporters banned from entering by Israel, these journalists have shouldered the responsibility of bearing witness - always at enormous personal risk.
The death toll among journalists has been staggering, almost incomprehensible. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, more than 186 have lost their lives in 22 months. Some were killed while working. Others died alongside their families as they sheltered from bombardment. Without them, what we know about the conflict would not have reached the outside world.
Our International News Safety Institute (INSI) member AFP has reported that its local staff are now too weak to work due to lack of food and clean water. Many other members have staff and contributors in Gaza facing the same desperate conditions.
At INSI we stand together to honour their courage and sacrifice and call on the Israeli authorities to allow any journalists and their families who wish to leave Gaza to do so.
Israel must allow other journalists into Gaza. Nearly two years into the war, no international media have been permitted to independently enter.
As local reporters are killed, face the threat of starvation, or try to flee, the world will be systematically cut off from witnessing what is happening. This cannot be allowed to happen.
Protecting those who report from conflict is a duty shared by all. Our local journalists have done their jobs with unimaginable resilience and bravery. Letting them leave Gaza if they wish to do so and allowing others in to offer respite and continue their work is a humanitarian obligation we cannot ignore.
Signed by:
The undersigned members of the International News Safety Institute (INSI) support this statement and call for Israel to allow any journalist and their family who wish to leave Gaza to do so, and to allow in international reporters to carry out their work.
- Salim Amin, Chairman, Camerapix
- Andreas Arnseth, Chief of Staff, VG
- Cilla Benkö, Director General, Swedish Radio
- Esther Bootsma, Head of the Foreign Desk, NOS-news
- Edith Chapin, Senior Vice President of News and Editor in Chief, NPR
- Phil Chetwynd, Global News Director, Agence France-Press (AFP)
- Lisa Clifford, Acting Director, INSI
- Louisa Compton, Head of News & Current Affairs & Specialist Factual & Sport, Channel 4
- Liz Corbin, Director of News, European Broadcasting Union
- Eva Corell, Director of Foreign Bureaus, Bayerischer Rundfunk (member of ARD German Broadcasting)
- Rachel Corp, CEO, ITN
- Elena Cosentino, Director, INSI
- Andrew Dagnell, Director of News and Current Affairs, ITV
- Paul Danahar, Foreign Editor, BBC News
- Katie den Daas, Vice President, Global Newsgathering, ABC News
- Mahmood Enayat, General Manager, Volant Media
- Stephen Engelberg, Editor-in-Chief, ProPublica
- Brodie Fenlon, General Manager and Editor in Chief, CBC News
- Ole Eivind Henden, News Director (acting), NRK
- Callum Hunt, Head of Business, World Service Group, BBC
- Luce Julien, General Manager News and Current Affairs, Radio Canada
- Daniel Kederstedt, Head of Foreign News, Sveriges Television (SVT)
- Peter Limbourg, Director General, Deutsche Welle (DW)
- Andy Marsh, Deputy Head of International News, Sky News
- Sara Qudah, MENA Regional Director, Committee To Protect Journalists
- Debbie Ramsay, 5 News Editor
- Richard Tait, Professor of Journalism, School of Journalism, Media and Culture, Cardiff University,
- Krista Taubert, Editor-in-Chief, In-depth Journalism, News and Sports Unit, YLE, the Finnish Broadcasting Company
- Fran Unsworth, Chair, INSI
- Luc Van Bakel, Editor-in-Chief, VRT NWS
- Jon Williams, Executive Director, Rory Peck Trust
- Laura Wilshaw, News Editor, ITV
- Esme Wren, News Editor, Channel 4
- The Financial Times
- The Guardian
- The Washington Post
