The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) accused the Israeli occupation forces of committing an unprecedented massacre in the history of the journalism profession, killing nearly 200 journalists and media workers during its ongoing aggression on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023.In a statement issued on Wednesday following its two-day general meeting in Budapest, the EFJ condemned the deadly attacks against civilians, including journalists, over the past year and a half in the Gaza Strip. The joint statement was signed by all 120 of its members in 47 European countries.The statement stressed that the Israeli military is seeking to impose a media blackout on Gaza, to silence witnesses to the war crimes committed by its forces as much as possible, at a time when a growing number of international NGOs and UN bodies are describing them as acts of genocide.The EFJ emphasized that as journalists, the right of life is considered a fundamental human right, and that based on its unwavering commitment to press freedom, it is their duty to condemn this policy, express solidarity with Palestinian colleagues, and repeatedly demand its right to enter Gaza.The EFJ called on media professionals and journalists to demonstrate their solidarity with their Palestinian colleagues across European newsrooms, as well as to organize vigils similar to the symbolic vigil held in Paris on April 16, where hundreds of media professionals gathered in solidarity with their colleagues in Palestine.The meeting also called on the EU's Steering Committee to intervene to protect Palestinian journalists and ensure freedom of information in the Middle East, in conjunction with all EU institutions. It called for a ceasefire to end the massacre of civilians, including journalists, end impunity for perpetrators of these crimes, and immediately open the Gaza Strip to international media.
