Plaça Sant Jaume in Barcelona was the scene this morning of a rally to denounce the systematic murder of journalists, photographers, cameras and communication professionals who try to report from Gaza about the war in dramatic conditions. The event brought together half a hundred information and communication workers who staged, planting their work material on the ground, solidarity with Palestinian colleagues and the protest for the death of more than 50 journalists and communication professionals.
The event has been organized by the Feminist Communicators collective, with the membership of the Union of Journalists of Catalonia, the Syndicat de la Imatge-UPIFC, the CGT, the European Network of Women Journalists, SICOM, the FeSP, the Association of Women Journalists and the Ramon Barnils Group of Journalists.
The act began by playing the actual sound of the bombings and posters were put up with the name and the medium where they work for the 37 dead professionals who have been identified by international journalistic associations. The Palestinian Journalists’ Union in Gaza, however, puts the death toll at 52. Cameras, notebooks, microphones, helmets and press vests have been placed on the ground in protest of these murders and the impediments to journalism in the Gaza Strip.
The journalists Maria Alba Gilabert and Mònica Terribas have read a manifesto in which they have denounced that “the State of Israel prevents the presence of witnesses”, since it “does not allow independent access of the international press”. For a month, journalists have been prevented from entering the Gaza Strip and the few who are just beginning to gain access do so embedded in the Israeli army. “In many cases, Israeli bombs have deliberately fallen on the house” of journalists working from Gaza “and have killed their entire family”, the journalistic organizations have explained. In addition, there has been deliberate destruction, in whole or in part, by the Israeli army of the premises housing the newsrooms of more than 50 media outlets in Gaza, according to Reporters Without Borders. The International Federation of Journalists warns that the number of media workers who have lost their lives in the month of conflict is unprecedented.
The event included some words from Nasser Abu Bakr , president of the Union of Palestinian Journalists in Gaza. In an emotional testimony recorded in an audio, Abu Bakr thanked the act of support and described the dramatic conditions in which they work under the fire of the bombs. “We are still under fire, under war, under air attacks. They are killing Palestinian journalists daily. They have killed 32 journalists and 20 media workers. At least 35 journalists are injured. 60 media offices have been demolished in Palestine, Gaza. There are two journalists about whom we have no information, nothing. Many families of journalists have been killed by the Israeli army; many houses of journalists have also been demolished”, he assured.
According to Nasser Abu Bakr, more than a thousand journalists have lost their homes under fire and airstrikes. “On the west side, the situation is also very dangerous. In East Jerusalem there have been more than 85 attacks on journalists by the army, police and security forces. More than 25 journalists have been arrested and are in prison,” he said. The Union of Palestinian Journalists in Gaza has called for the help of the international community, governments and parliaments and urged to defend human rights.
During the event, it was also possible to hear a message of support and denunciation from the journalist Maruja Torres . “Journalists are the eyes of the people. They must have access to the places where things happen. And they should not be killed”, claimed Torres. “Freedom of expression must be extended everywhere, even in Gaza, which nobody seems to care about”, added the veteran journalist.
Photos by Olivia Molet
