(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) International press freedom organisation Reporters Without Borders (RWB) on Tuesday deplored the Israeli bombardment of civilians, including journalists, in Gaza and said it was shocked and saddened by the death of Khaled Hamad, a young Palestinian cameraman killed by an Israeli tank shell earlier this week.
Hamad died while he was preparing a report on attacks by Israeli troops on Palestinian paramedics, RWB indicated in a statement here.
The press body also decried the wounding of other media workers in earlier Israeli raids on the offices of news organisations in Gaza.
"Reporters Without Borders deplores the Israeli army's bombardment of Palestinian civilians, including journalists," said Virginie Dangles a spokeswoman at RWB.
"We note that, under UN Security Council resolution 1738 of 2006 and the Geneva Conventions, all parties to the conflict have a duty to guarantee the safety of journalists," she added.
RWB remarked Tuesday that since the start of Israel's Operation Protective Edge in the Gaza Strip, 583 Palestinians have been killed, most of them civilians. On the Israeli side, 27 soldiers have died. Israeli bombardment two days ago of the Shijaiyah neighbourhood, just outside Gaza City, alone caused 140 Palestinian deaths." Several media offices have been targeted by warning shots from Israeli soldiers after threats from the Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lierberman, the press body remarked.
In addition to the 26-year-old Hamad, who was killed despite wearing clear "press" markings, other media workers have been killed and wounded while doing their jobs.
Hamad died after an ambulance he was standing beside was hit by an Israeli tank shell.
RWB warned that a new information war has been started because of Gaza, with some US networks seemingly taking sides and even replacing correspondents who were reporting the mayhem and the deaths of children "too emotionally" in Gaza.
Furthermore, "the Israeli government has told foreign journalists covering the offensive that it is not responsible for their safety," RWB reported.
And some foreign journalists say they have received a message from the Israeli authorities "warning them that they could be used as human shields by Hamas." Israel has also breached international law in another area by making correspondents register with the Government Press Office and forcing them to sign a waiver declaring that they are fully aware of the dangers to which they are exposed.
The document states: "I am aware that neither the MOD nor the IDF shall bear any liability whatsoever for damage resulting from military operations. Furthermore I hereby undertake that no suit, claim or demand of any kind shall be filed for damage or injury."
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.