The Egypt Media Forum 2025 devoted one of its main sessions to the enduring challenges and responsibilities of journalists covering the war in Gaza, under the title “Gaza: The Coverage Continues.”
The session, held in the Forum’s main hall, brought together senior media figures and diplomats to discuss the importance of sustained, ethical, and human-centered coverage of the Palestinian crisis.
The discussion was moderated by renowned Egyptian media figure Aya Abdelrahman Shahin, and featured Ambassador Ahmed Rashid Khattabi, Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League; Danaa Abu Shamsiya, Al Qahera News reporter; and Yousef Al-Ostaz, Head of News at Al-Ghad TV.
In his remarks, Ambassador Ahmed Rashid Khattabi emphasized the political significance of maintaining consistent coverage of Gaza, stressing the “close interlink between political and media efforts.”
He pointed to the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Conference as a source of “a glimmer of hope,” calling on regional actors to uphold two key principles: halting displacement and preventing the liquidation of the Palestinian cause.
Khattabi also praised Arab media for their “tireless efforts over two years of war,” saying journalists had played a heroic role in revealing on-the-ground realities. “The first casualty in any war is the truth,” he warned, underlining the need for accuracy and credibility.
On his part, Al-Ostaz highlighted the crucial responsibility of Arab media in ensuring that Gaza remains visible to global audiences. “If Gaza disappears from the screens, it risks being forgotten,” he said.
He called for sustained focus on rebuilding efforts and human stories that reflect resilience and recovery, as well as deeper reporting on post-war realities.
Al-Osstaz recounted that Al-Ghad TV’s Gaza bureaus and equipment had been destroyed during the conflict, forcing correspondents to rely on mobile phones for coverage. Despite these hardships, he said, “Our duty as journalists is to keep the story alive — and the witnesses are still among us.”
He also urged adherence to ethical standards: “We must respect the dignity of victims. No one should profit from the suffering of the wounded or martyrs. Faces should be blurred, and humanity preserved.”
He further noted that professional training and preparation for journalists in war zones remain vital.
For Danaa Abu Shamsiya, covering Gaza is a national duty before a professional one. “There is no neutrality in the Palestinian cause,” she declared. “As journalists, we are not machines — we feel and we grieve.”
Recalling a moment while reporting from Gaza, Abu Shamsiya described watching a mother bid farewell to her son: “I put myself in her place because I am a mother before being a correspondent.”
She said she herself became part of the story when she was attacked by Israeli forces during coverage after Friday prayers. “We will never be like the Israeli media that spreads propaganda and distortion,” she affirmed.
Abu Shamsiya concluded with a call for sustained coverage and vigilance: “We must not reach a stage where we get used to these scenes. The world must continue to see Gaza, and journalists must keep telling its story.”
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