In an interview yesterday for Al-Jazeera, Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) could not treat Al-Aqsa TV employees as “legitimate journalists” like BBC or Al-Jazeera English journalists.
Reporters Without Borders condemns Regev’s position and points out that news media enjoy the same rights as civilians under humanitarian law and their offices cannot be regarded as military targets.
Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Christophe Deloire yesterday said that support for Hamas could not be used as grounds for attacking a news organization. “Attacks on civilian targets are war crimes and serious violations of the Geneva Conventions,” Deloire said. “Those responsible must be identified.”
“PILLAR OF DEFENCE” OR INFORMATION WAR
http://en.rsf.org/palestinian-terr-pillar-of-defence-or-information-19-11-2012,43697.html
19 November 2012 – Two more Palestinian journalists injured
Israeli warplanes again fired missiles this afternoon at the Al-Shuruk media building in the west Gaza City district of Rimal, injuring two more journalists – Al-Arabiya cameraman Ahmed Al-Ridi and Ahmed Al-Achkar, a cameraman with Houna Al-Quds TV, a local station.
Doctors at Gaza City’s Al-Shifa Hospital said the two journalists had sustained light injuries and were allowed to go home two hours after being admitted.
A spokesman for the Israel Defence Forces said the target was Ramez Harb, head of media for Saraya Al-Quds, the armed wing of the Gaza-based group Islamic Jihad, who was killed in the airstrike.
The building nonetheless houses the offices of several foreign and local media and today’s airstrike damaged the Al-Arabiya and Houna Al-Quds bureaux
In an interview yesterday for Al-Jazeera, Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said the IDF could not treat Al-Aqsa TV employees as “legitimate journalists” like BBC or Al-Jazeera English journalists.
Reporters Without Borders condemns Regev’s position and points out that news media enjoy the same rights as civilians under humanitarian law and their offices cannot be regarded as military targets.
Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Christophe Deloire yesterday said that support for Hamas could not be used as grounds for attacking a news organization. “Attacks on civilian targets are war crimes and serious violations of the Geneva Conventions,” Deloire said. “Those responsible must be identified.”