Geneva: The UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Irene Khan, accused Israel today of deliberately targeting journalists to cover up the “genocide” in Gaza, where the ongoing war is the deadliest for media workers.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Khan said in press statements in Geneva that “the way journalists are being killed and silenced is to cover up the genocide,” noting that ‘the latest UN figures show that at least 252 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023.’ She added that this “makes the conflict the deadliest ever for journalists,” warning that ‘the number will likely increase as we hear news of more killings every week.’

She said that the number of journalists killed in Gaza exceeds those killed in the two world wars and other wars, noting that many of the journalists killed in Gaza were targeted. She emphasized that “they are being singled out and killed because the work they do exposes the atrocities, crimes, and genocide on the ground,” adding, “Therefore, this is not just about killing journalists; there is a very clear attempt to kill the news.”

She expressed her dismay at Israel’s continued ban on international journalists from entering Gaza. She said, “What is happening in Gaza is highly unusual. I cannot remember another instance where a UN member state has prevented independent international media from covering a conflict.” She emphasized that this is a “terrible precedent” for media freedom and called for international action, emphasizing the need for countries to “stop Israel before it silences all journalists in Gaza.”