TEHRAN, Iran, Oct 20 — Offering fair and objective coverage of the news in Gaza is crucial while the conflict in Gaza rages on, but journalists working at the scene and nearby areas face formidable obstacles endangering their lives.
As a result, the Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA), the association for regional news agencies, demands journalists in Gaza be protected.
“We affirm our commitment to fight for the safety and security of all journalists and consider the sanctity of their lives indispensable. OANA is deeply concerned about the safety of the journalists working in the region,” said a statement issued by the organisation and signed by OANA director-general Zaman Rezakhani.
It emphasises the crucial importance of the safety of journalists operating in the field for all respected news alliances, and urged all institutions and organisations to take the highest measures to ensure the safety of journalists.
OANA has more than 40 news agencies in its membership list across the Asia-Pacific region.
As of Thursday (October 19), at least 21 journalists were among the more than 4,000 fatalities on both sides since the conflict began on October 7. Tuesday’s (October 17) blast at Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza alone killed almost 500 people.
— Bernama
