Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a leading international non-profit organization that safeguards the right to freedom of information, has filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor’s office. The complaint, filed on 31 October, alleges war crimes committed against Palestinian journalists in Gaza.
The complaint details the cases of nine journalists who were killed while performing their duties since 7 October. It also includes information about two other journalists who were wounded in the line of duty. The RSF complaint emphasizes the importance of protecting journalists and upholding the freedom of the press, even in conflict zones.
According to the latest tally by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in the tragic loss of 34 journalists since its inception. Of these, at least 12 were killed while actively engaged in their work. The geographical distribution of these casualties is as follows: 10 in Gaza, one in Israel, and one in Lebanon.
RSF has expressed grave concern over the scale, seriousness, and recurring nature of international crimes targeting journalists, particularly in Gaza. The organization has been advocating for a priority investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor since 2018. The recent tragic events have underscored the extreme urgency of ICC action.
The statement from RSF reads: “The scale, seriousness and recurring nature of international crimes targeting journalists, particularly in Gaza, calls for a priority investigation by the ICC prosecutor. We have been calling for this since 2018. The current tragic events demonstrate the extreme urgency of the need for ICC action.”
The ICC prosecutor’s office has yet to respond to the complaint. The international community eagerly awaits its decision, which could have far-reaching implications for the protection of journalists in conflict zones.
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