May 3rd of every year is celebrated as World Press Freedom Day. This day is crucial for respecting and maintaining the fundamental principles of press freedom.
This day serves as an international platform to assess the state of journalism in different parts of the world, recognize progress made in protecting media freedom and human rights, and honor the sacrifice of journalists who have tragically lost their lives while fulfilling their duty to inform and provide information.
As this day is being observed around the world, we must remember the supreme sacrifice of journalists who were martyred while performing this duty in the holy land of Palestine. According to statistics from the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), more than a hundred journalists and media workers have been killed since Israel began its attacks on Palestine. The federation has condemned this.
The IFJ has also called on governments around the world, especially the Israeli government, to protect journalists’ lives and press freedom in accordance with international responsibilities.
The number of journalists killed in Gaza is a figure the whole world should be ashamed of. Statistics show that 142 journalists and media workers have been martyred in the Gaza war since October 7th. This is considered one of the most dangerous conflicts for the media to date. Another major loss is to press freedom.
Since October 7th, when the Israeli government restricted public access to Gaza, the IFJ has repeatedly called on Israel to allow foreign press into Gaza and to stop obstructing journalists’ work and freedom of public expression. However, Palestinian journalists had to pay with their lives to exercise their right to seek and disseminate information.
Journalists were the only means that showed Gaza to the world as eyes and ears, even at the risk of danger and harm to themselves.
This year’s theme for World Press Freedom Day is “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis.”
