LONDON: A coalition of 39 international media watchdog groups has called upon the member states of the Media Freedom Coalition to take decisive action to ensure the safety of journalists and facilitate access to information in Gaza.
“In more than five months of a devastating conflict, with record numbers of journalists killed, primarily by Israeli forces in Gaza, there has been no credible action taken by MFC Member States,” the coalition said in a public letter released on Monday.
The group emphasized that the “collective silence” of the MFC has far-reaching consequences and “seriously diminishes our collective ability to credibly stand up for media freedom globally.”
The MFC comprises 52 countries committed to safeguarding media freedom domestically and internationally.
Signatories of the public letter included the Committee to Protect Journalists, 7amleh, the Gulf Centre for Human Rights, and the International Federation of Journalists.
In their letter, the signatories criticized member states for applying double standards, with many nations known for championing media freedom remaining silent on the issue.
“We need journalists on the ground to be our eyes and ears. Journalists in Gaza face the most serious risks to their lives and urgently need our support,” the statement read, urging member states to “consistently and publicly” advocate for the protection of Palestinian journalists and to facilitate “immediate and unrestricted access” for international journalists to the strip.
The coalition also called upon MFC members to support calls for independent, effective, and thorough investigations into the killings of journalists, citing mounting evidence of targeted attacks during the conflict.
In December, the MFC issued a statement expressing concerns about the impact of the ongoing conflict on journalist safety and access to information.
In an open letter signed by 24 members, including the UK, South Korea, Italy, Chile, and Switzerland, the coalition urged all parties to ensure the safety of journalists and to guarantee access to “reliable, independent, and diverse sources of information,” as well as access to the internet, which are “essential during times of conflict.”