Protests and vigils have taken place all over the world in help of Palestinians struggling in Gaza and to pay tribute to the 4 Al Jazeera journalists and two freelancers killed by Israel within the besieged enclave in a deliberate focused assassination on Sunday.
Journalists, college students, activists and members of civil society – notably in Cape City, South Africa; Manila, the Philippines; and London, the UK – held the protests on Wednesday to name on their governments to place stress on Israel to permit worldwide media into Gaza and convey an finish to Israel’s genocidal struggle there.
Late on Sunday, Al Jazeera correspondents Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh, together with cameramen Ibrahim Zaher and Mohammed Noufal, have been killed in an Israeli strike that had focused their media tent situated by al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza Metropolis.
Al-Sharif had been one in every of Gaza’s most recognisable faces for his fixed reporting of the truth on the bottom since Israel’s struggle on Gaza started following the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 assaults on southern Israel.
Israel’s struggle on Gaza has killed at the least 61,722 folks and wounded 154,525. An estimated 1,139 folks have been killed in Israel throughout the October 7, 2023, assaults in southern Israel, and greater than 200 have been taken captive.
Almost 270 Palestinian journalists and media staff have been killed by Israel for the reason that struggle started.
South Africa
Members of civil society and journalists gathered at St George’s Cathedral in Cape City on Wednesday to specific their anger at al-Sharif’s homicide, sporting placards with one studying “your voice was louder than their bombs”.
The placement is important, mentioned Al Jazeera’s Fahmida Miller, reporting from Cape City, as “it’s been an essential sign towards oppression right here in South Africa, particularly throughout the many years of apartheid”.
The folks gathered right here “have condemned what Israel has carried out”, Miller mentioned.
“They need the entry of worldwide journalists into Gaza along with the work being carried out by Palestinian journalists,” she mentioned. “Folks listed below are offended.”
Journalist Zubeida Jaffer instructed Miller, “I used to be one of many journalists who have been focused, you realize these media that documented apartheid, so this actually resonates with me.”
Miller mentioned, “The South African authorities has beforehand condemned the killing of journalists in Gaza, particularly in 2022 when Shireen Abu Akleh was killed. The South African authorities had mentioned it was a violation of worldwide legislation.”
Abu Akleh was a Palestinian-American journalist who labored as a reporter for 25 years for Al Jazeera, earlier than she was killed by Israeli forces whereas protecting a raid on the Jenin refugee camp within the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution.
In December 2023, South Africa introduced a case earlier than the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice, accusing Israel of committing genocide within the Gaza Strip.
United Kingdom
Reporters belonging to the UK branches of the Nationwide Union of Journalists paid their respects on Wednesday to the slain Al Jazeera staff outdoors the prime minister’s residence at Quantity 10 Downing Avenue, mentioned Al Jazeera’s Jonah Hull, reporting from London.
The reporters, holding placards bearing the names of journalists killed since Israel’s struggle on Gaza started, learn out the names of every journalist that appeared on their placard and “symbolically, recited Islamic funeral prayers” for these killed on Sunday, mentioned Hull.
These current “have actually condemned the British authorities … speaking about its complicity in what’s going on in Gaza, for not doing extra and talking out extra,” mentioned Hull.
Whereas British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday “talked about his grave concern” concerning the killings of the Al Jazeera journalists, these current on Wednesday “need outright condemnation and nothing much less”, mentioned Hull.
“In addition they need the federal government to take agency steps to stress the Israeli authorities to make sure the security of journalists in Gaza, importantly to permit worldwide journalists into Gaza to have the ability to work freely there and for an impartial investigation to be carried out by … the Worldwide Prison Courtroom with the intention to present justice and accountability for these concerned.”
Final week, Starmer condemned Israel’s plans to take over Gaza Metropolis, saying they have been “fallacious” and “will solely deliver extra bloodshed”. He has additionally introduced that the UK will recognise a Palestinian state in September until Israel meets sure circumstances, together with agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza and reviving the prospect of a two-state answer.
Philippines
College students, campus journalists and activists gathered on the College of the Philippines on Wednesday to specific outrage on the killing of the Al Jazeera journalists.
They are saying “the assault … is a deliberate cover-up by Israel of its crimes towards humanity” within the Gaza Strip, mentioned Al Jazeera’s Barnaby Lo, reporting from Manila.
“In addition they describe the accusation that Anas al-Sharif, one of the crucial distinguished voices reporting from inside Gaza, is a member of Hamas is baseless,” mentioned Lo, noting that protesters say “that is an age-old tactic utilized by governments who’re bent on silencing the reality”.
“Any imperialist energy … will select a scapegoat to make use of as a pretext, nonetheless false it’s,” campus journalist Karl Patrick Suyat instructed Lo.
These protesters additionally gathered to induce “the worldwide neighborhood to ramp up stress on Israel to cease its genocide, together with for the Philippine authorities to chop its commerce and defence ties with Israel”, mentioned Lo.
The Philippines is the third-largest importer of Israeli weapons.
In June, the Philippines voted in favour of a United Nations Basic Meeting decision demanding a right away and lasting ceasefire in Gaza. This decision additionally condemned Israel’s use of hunger as a weapon of struggle and referred to as for Israel to raise its blockade on humanitarian assist in Gaza.
