Israel targets Turkish media outlets in Gaza conflict
Israeli police are seen attacking the TRT Haber team in Jerusalem, which was covering the developments in the region, Jerusalem, Palestine, Nov. 17, 2023. (Photo by TRT Haber)
According to a statement from Gaza’s Media Office, violence against journalists has been escalating amid Israel’s ongoing attacks on the Gaza Strip, now stretching into the 318th day. The statement details the deaths of 169 journalists in Gaza.
Israeli soldiers recently shot journalist Ibrahim Mervan Muharib dead while tracking Israeli military vehicles in Khan Younis, a city in southern Gaza. The targeting of journalists in Gaza has been condemned, with the Israeli army being held responsible for these deaths.
Turkish media outlets are also in Israel’s crosshairs.
On Dec. 15, 2023, Israeli security forces assaulted Türkiye’s Anadolu photojournalist Mostafa Alkharouf while he was covering news in the Vadi El Cuz neighborhood of East Jerusalem. Following the incident, Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir promised to ensure Alkharouf’s swift return to work.
Additionally, Israeli police attacked the Turkish state outlet TRT Haber team on Nov. 17, 2023, while they were reporting on Israeli forces blocking and using force against Palestinians heading to the Al-Aqsa Mosque before Friday prayers. The police physically intervened with the TRT Haber team and damaged their camera with a weapon barrel.
On July 26, 2024, while Israeli soldiers targeted people heading to prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, they also attacked a TRT team, resulting in injuries to a TRT cameraman.
A recent incident targeted TRT Arabi reporter Sami Barhoum and his team in Khan Younis, Gaza, on August 18, 2024, in an area deemed “safe.” Five bullets fired from long-barreled weapons hit their vehicle.
These incidents highlight Israel’s ongoing targeting of media workers and underscore the need for the international community to respond more forcefully.
Israel violating international law
Recent attacks by Israel on Turkish journalists, along with general violence against media workers, are raising serious concerns about violations of international law.
According to Gaza’s Media Office, Israel has killed 169 journalists since Oct. 7. This number was 163 on July 25, 2024.
International regulations, such as the Geneva Conventions and the 1977 Additional Protocol I (Chapter III), aim to provide journalists with the same protection as civilians in conflict zones.
However, the situation in Gaza demonstrates the ineffective enforcement of these protections. In these areas, the attacks on journalists reveal just how weak these legal safeguards can be in practice.
The Rome Statute gives the International Criminal Court (ICC) authority to handle war crimes, and attacks on journalists can be considered as such. However, prosecuting these crimes is often complex and fraught with difficulties.
In 2006, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1738, condemning attacks on journalists in conflict zones and urging member states to prevent these attacks and hold the perpetrators accountable. Despite this, implementing these resolutions is difficult because of a variety of practical challenges.
The attacks on journalists by Israel are significant violations of international law. The ongoing violence in Gaza and other conflict areas underscores the need for better international cooperation and stronger legal protections for media workers.
