By Amin Kef (Ranger)

A coalition of African journalists has strongly condemned what it describes as the intentional and systematic targeting of Palestinian journalists in Gaza by the Israeli government and its military forces.

Operating under the umbrella of African Journalists Against Genocide (AJAG), the group—founded by Nigerian broadcast journalist Ireti Bakare-Yusuf—brings together media practitioners from more than 20 African countries. In a press statement and accompanying video message, AJAG accused Israel of seeking to silence Palestinian voices by deliberately attacking those documenting the ongoing war.

According to the coalition, over 250 journalists have been killed in Gaza since the escalation of hostilities, making it the deadliest period for journalists globally in the 21st century. AJAG noted that international reporters have been largely barred from entering Gaza, leaving Palestinian journalists as the world’s only reliable witnesses to the humanitarian crisis.

“The deliberate targeting of these journalists indicates the Israeli state’s clear strategy of suppressing the truth,” AJAG said. “Without their voices, eyes, and determination to inform and document atrocities on the ground, the world would be blind to the full scale of Israel’s campaign against a besieged population.”

The group emphasized that the killing of journalists constitutes a crime under international law and should not go unpunished. They urged the international community to impose sanctions on Israel, comparing the situation to the global response against apartheid-era South Africa.

“As Africans, we know too well the ugly face of colonialism, occupation, and apartheid,” AJAG stated. “We demand accountability and justice for our Palestinian colleagues.”

AJAG further called on the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) and other continental and international press unions to amplify their demand for justice. The group insisted that journalism remains the “lifeblood of truth,” holding governments accountable and giving a voice to the oppressed.

The coalition urged journalist organizations and civil society worldwide to unite in demanding an end to the killing of journalists and what it described as Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

AJAG is also using its Instagram platform @VoicesofAJAG to mobilize support and promote future campaigns on other global conflicts, including those in Sudan, Congo, and Haiti. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/killing-journalists-is-a-crime-african-journalists-against-genocide-speak-out-on-gaza/