United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the fatalities of journalists in Gaza caused by Israeli occupation forces, deeming the situation "unacceptable" and stressing the critical need for their protection amidst the escalating violence in the region.
In a statement delivered at an international media symposium held at the UN Office in Geneva, Guterres noted that the conflict in Gaza marked its first anniversary last October.
He pointed out that the ongoing situation in the West Bank, particularly in East Jerusalem, characterized by Israeli military operations, settlement expansions, and an increase in settler violence, further diminishes the prospects for a viable two-state solution.
Guterres also denounced Israel's persistent restrictions on the entry of international journalists into Gaza, highlighting that media professionals in the region are facing fatalities at an unprecedented rate compared to other conflicts.
He expressed profound concern for journalists in the West Bank who have suffered injuries or fatalities due to actions by Israeli forces, reiterating that this scenario is "unacceptable" and necessitates immediate actions to protect media personnel from irreversible harm.
The Secretary-General emphasized the urgent requirement for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon to enable the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance and to foster renewed, irreversible progress towards a two-state solution.
Recent statistics indicate that 174 journalists and media workers have lost their lives amid the ongoing Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip.
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