TEHRAN – The Iranian Photojournalists Association (IPJA) has strongly denounced the brutal actions of the Zionists during the recent conflict in Gaza, specifically condemning the targeted killings of photojournalists and reporters.

In a statement released on Saturday, the IPJA expressed deep sorrow for the tragic deaths of 42 photojournalists who were present in the Gaza Strip when they were ruthlessly taken away by Israeli forces. 
 
The association highlighted that this was an incredibly imbalanced and unjust war.

Parts of the statement are as follows: 

"Last year, at least 67 of our media colleagues were killed while on duty, the highest number since 2018. But even more horrifying is that since October 7, at least 42 of our colleagues have been killed in the Gaza war, which means one person per day.

The deliberate targeting of photographers, reporters, and videographers, obstructing the free flow of media, and threatening their lives if they continue their professional activities in Gaza, is evidence that they have taken the right side of history and carried out their work precisely.

More than anything else, this reminds us of the phrase by Kaveh Golestan, the late Iranian war photographer: 'I want to show you scenes that devour you like a deluge, endanger your safety, and put you at risk. You can look away, be silent, hide your identity, like criminals, but you cannot stop the truth, no one can.'

The Iranian Photojournalists Association strongly condemns this unequal war and the crimes that occur every day in Gaza. It salutes the photographers, reporters, videographers, and citizen journalists who courageously and exemplarily face death every second while striving to capture the reality."

On November 17, the Committee to Protect Journalists reported that the Israel-Gaza war has taken a severe toll on journalists since Hamas launched its attack against Israel on October 7 and Israel declared war on the militant Palestinian group, launching strikes on the blockaded Gaza Strip.

Investigating all reports of journalists and media workers killed, injured, or missing in the war has led to the deadliest month for journalists since CPJ began gathering data in 1992, the report added. 

As of November 17, CPJ’s preliminary investigations showed at least 42 journalists and media workers were among the more than 12,000 killed since the war began on October 7—with over 11,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza and the West Bank. 

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told Reuters and Agence France Press news agencies that it could not guarantee the safety of their journalists operating in the Gaza Strip, after they had sought assurances that their journalists would not be targeted by Israeli strikes, Reuters reported on October 27.

Journalists in Gaza face particularly high risks as they try to cover the conflict during the Israeli ground assault, including devastating Israeli airstrikes, disrupted communications, supply shortages and extensive power outages.

SAB/