From Gaza to Lebanon: Skyline condemns Israel's deadly targeting of journalists through surveillance and online defamation

As Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza marks a year since its escalation on October 7, 2023, Skyline International for Human Rights condemns in the strongest terms all deliberate and deadly pattern of targeting journalists in both Gaza and Lebanon. Since last year, the toll of journalists killed in Gaza has reached 175 media professionals, making it the deadliest place in the world for journalists. 

Journalism is not a crime; it is a fundamental pillar of democracy and human rights, enshrined in international humanitarian law, which must be upheld, particularly during times of war. The targeted harassment and extrajudicial killing of journalists are deliberate acts that constitute war crimes. Israel’s systematic assault on the press—manifested through airstrikes, drone attacks, disinformation campaigns, censorship, and targeted surveillance—reflects a calculated strategy to suppress coverage of Israel’s atrocities in Gaza, prevent the exposure of its war crimes and shield its actions from scrutiny. Such attacks, including the killings of journalists in clearly marked press attire operating from recognized media zones, aim to silence critical voices and obstruct access to vital information.

Additionally, Israel has weaponized internet and communication blackouts, cutting off connectivity in 18 documented instances since the war began. The latest occurred on October 18, when the Israeli army shut down communication and internet services in northern Gaza during a two-week-long bombing campaign characterized by extermination and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Jabalia refugee camp. These shutdowns severely cripple journalists' ability to communicate and report on ongoing atrocities, deepening the isolation of those trapped in the war zone and obstructing the flow of vital information to the outside world. This creates an information vacuum that Israel exploits to conceal its annihilation of Palestinians. 

Israel’s tactics extend beyond physical violence. Journalists in Gaza are also subjected to harassment through digital surveillance, often used to track their movements and monitor their communications. This surveillance has directly facilitated the targeting of journalists for airstrikes and assassinations, a practice that represents a gross violation of human rights and breaches international humanitarian law. Under Article 79 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions, journalists in war zones are classified as civilians, and any deliberate attack on them, particularly when aided by intelligence gathered through surveillance, is a clear violation of their rights.

These attacks are not just words—they are threats with lethal consequences. A chilling example is the killing of 19-year-old Palestinian journalist Hassan Hamad, who was targeted and killed along with his family after receiving a threatening message via WhatsApp from the Israeli army, stating: “Listen, if you continue spreading lies about Israel, we'll come for you next.”

Simultaneously, Israeli ministries and officials have launched disinformation and defamation campaigns on social media, using these tactics as additional weapons to instill fear and silence the press by specifically targeting journalists with smear campaigns and incitement to violence. A stark example is Al Jazeera correspondent Anas Al Sherif, who faced public vilification from the Israeli military spokesperson on X (formerly Twitter) after reporting on the massacre at Al-Tabi’in Mosque in Gaza, accusing him of lying in an effort to tarnish his reputation and silence his truthful reporting.

The attacks have also expanded to Lebanon, where Al-Mayadeen journalist Hadi Al-Sayed was killed in an Israeli airstrike that targeted his home in Burj Rahhal. The targeting of journalists across borders underscores Israel 's complete disregard for international law and its aggressive attempts to suppress all critical reporting of its violent military operations.

Journalists risk their lives to expose war crimes, document human suffering, and uphold the public’s right to know through free reporting. The targeting of media workers is a grave violation of the Geneva Conventions which guarantees the protection of journalists as civilians during wartime. It also violates Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which enshrines the right to freedom of expression and access to information. These deliberate attacks undermine the protection of civilians and the free flow of crucial information during wartime

Skyline International for Human Rights calls on state actors, international organizations, and media institutions to unite in defense of journalists under attack and to hold Israel accountable for its killings and lethal assaults on the press. It is imperative that all violence against media professionals comes to an end and that robust protections are established for journalists operating in conflict zones, particularly in Gaza and Lebanon. 

Silencing journalists is a deliberate effort to conceal the truth, and the global community must remain vigilant and take a stand against such injustices. The time to act is now; the integrity of the press—and the truth it serves—depends on it.