On 24th May, 6pm, Palestinian journalists covering Gaza will be honoured in a silent and visually impactful vigil
outside Shed 10, 89 Quay Street, Auckland, where the Voyager Media Awards are being held.
The vigil, organised by Palestinian Youth Aotearoa (PYA) and People for Palestine (P4P), will include Palestinian
supporters holding up 105 “PRESS” vests in recognition of the brave journalists of Gaza, laureates of the 2024
UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, who have been systematically targeted and silenced by the Israeli
Defence Forces (IDF) throughout this conflict, their families often being martyred alongside them.
PYA and P4P call on all journalists in Aotearoa to stand in solidarity with the courageous journalists of the Gaza Strip
who continue to report on what the International Court of Justice has called a plausible genocide under threat of death
at any moment by the Israeli Defence Force.
PYA and P4P commends Kawea Te Rongo (the Māori Journalist Association) for their declaration of support for their
Palestinian colleagues back in November 2023 with co-chair Mani Dunlop publicly stating, “Journalists and the media are integral to ensuring the world and its leaders are accurately informed during this
conflict … Daily we are seeing stories of journalists who face extreme brutality … including the unconscionable worry of
their families’ safety while they themselves risk their lives. It is a deadly trade-off, every day they put on their
press vest and helmet to do their job selflessly for their people and the rest of the world.”
PYA spokesperson and musician, Rose Freeborn, wants journalists reporting from Aotearoa to critically examine Israel’s
treatment of their peers in Gaza and encourages storytellers of all mediums to engage with Palestinian voices.
“We unequivocally condemn the mass murder of 105 journalists in Gaza by the IDF since October 7th, as well as Israel’s
longstanding history of targeting journalists across the region, from Shireen Abu Akleh to Issam Abdallah, in an attempt
to smother the truth and dictate history.
"As that number continues to climb, we continue to grow weary with the substandard conduct of some of our own
journalists here in Aotearoa. At times, the media industry in this country has failed not only the Palestinian community
but New Zealand society at large by reporting factual inaccuracies and displaying a clear bias for the Israeli
narrative. This has led to people no longer trusting mainstream media outlets to give them the full story, so they have
turned to each other and the journalists on the ground in Gaza via social media.
"The storytellers of Gaza, with their resilience and extraordinary courage, have provided a blueprint for journalists
across the globe to stand in defense of truth, accuracy and objectivity. This action is designed to remind some of our
media professionals here that the indispensable values of journalism will not die in the absence of their commitment to
them – we, the people, bear witness, with or without them.”
Palestinian New Zealander and P4P spokesperson, Yasmine Serhan, states, “While it is my people being subjected to mass murder and ethnic cleansing in the Gaza Strip, it is the peers of New
Zealand journalists who are being systematically targeted and murdered by Israel in an attempt to stop the truth being
reported. Every day the journalists of Gaza report on and provide footage of the international war crimes being
committed by Israel. Just by doing their job and fulfilling this vital role, 105 journalists have paid with their lives
in Gaza.
"The murdered journalists of Gaza are no different to the journalists of Aotearoa in their pursuit of telling the truth.
I ask that all New Zealand journalists honor those who have lost their lives and stand in solidarity with their peers
still reporting from Gaza by calling on Israel to uphold international law and stop the systematic targeting and murder
of any more Gazan journalists and their families.”
Journalists murdered in Gaza since October 7, 2023
Mohammad Jarghoun, Smart Media, killed on 7 October
Ibrahim Lafi, Ain Media news agency, killed on 7 October
Mohammad Al-Salhi, photojournalist for news agency Fourth Authority, killed on 7 October Asaad Shamlakh, freelance
journalist, killed on 8 October
Said Al-Tawil, director of Al-Khamisa news agency, killed on 10 October
Mohammed Sobboh, photojournalist for Khabar news agency in Gaza, killed on 10 October Hisham Al-Nawajha, photographer
for Khabar news agency in Gaza, killed on 10 October Salam Meimah (W), journalist for Al Quds Radio, killed on 10
October
Mohammed Fayez Yousef Abu Matar, freelance photographer, killed on 11 October Ahmed Shehab, producer of Voice of
Prisoners Radio, killed on 12 October Hossam Mubarak, Al Aqsa TV, killed on 13 October
Yousef Dawwas, freelance journalist, killed on 14 October
Abdul Hadi Habib, Al Aqsa TV, killed on 16 October
Isam Bahar, Al Aqsa TV, killed on 17 October
Mohammed Balousha, Palestine TV, killed on 17 October
Samih Al-Nadi, director and producer of Al Aqsa TV, killed on 18 October
Khalil Abu Athra, cameraman for Al Aqsa TV, killed on 19 October
Muhammad Abu Ali, Al-Shabab radio, killed on 20 October
Hani Madhoun, administrative staff for Al Aqsa TV, killed on 21 October
Roshdi Sarraj, co-founder of Ain Media, photojournalist, filmmaker and fixer for several international media such as
Radio France, killed on 22 October
Mohammed Imad Labad, journalist for Al Resalah news website, killed on 23 October Saed al-Halabi, Al-Aqsa TV, killed on
25 October
Ahmed Abu Mahadi, Al-Aqsa TV, killed on 25 October
Salma Mukhaimar (W), journalist, killed on 25 October
Jamal Al-Faqawi, journalist for Mithaq Media Network, killed on 25 October Zaher Al-Afghani, journalist for Mithaq Media
Network, killed on 25 October Duaa Sharaf (W), journalist for Al Aqsa Radio, killed on 26 October
Mohammad Fayez Al Hassan, director general of Rawasi, killed on 26 October Yasser Abu Namous, journalist for Al Sahel
media, killed on 27 October
Nazmi Al-Nadim, deputy director of finance and administration for Palestine TV, killed on 30 October
Majd Kashkou, media worker for Palestine TV, killed on 31 October
Imad Wahidi, media worker for Palestine TV, killed on 31 October
Majd Fadl Arandas, journalist for news website Al-Jamahir, killed on 1 November Mohammed Abu Hatab, correspondent for
Palestine TV, killed on 2 November Mohammed Bayyari, journalist for Al Aqsa TV, killed on 2 November
Iyad Matar, administrative staff at Al Aqsa TV, killed on 2 November
Mohammed Al Jajeh, Press House, killed on 6 November
Mohammad Abu Hasira, correspondent for WAFA news agency, body found under the rubble on 7 November
Yahya Abu Munie, journalist for Al Aqsa radio, killed on 7 November
Ahmed Al-Qara, photojournalist, killed on 10 November
Mousa Al Barsh, executive director of Namaa Radio, killed on 12 November Ahmed Fatmah, photographer for Al Qahera News,
killed on 13 November Yacoub Bursh, director general of Namaa Radio, killed on 14 November
Mahmoud Matar, freelance journalist, killed on 15 November
Moseab Ashour, photographer, killed on 18 November
Mustafa Al-Sawaf, journalist and writer, killed on 18 November
Amr Abu Haya, media worker in Al Aqsa TV, killed on 18 November
Saary Mansour, director of Quds News Network, killed on 18 November
Hassouneh Isleem, freelance photographer for Quds News, killed on 18 November Bilal Jadallah, director general of media
development organisation Press House, killed on 19 November
Abdelhalim Awad, driver for Al Aqsa TV, killed on 18 November
Ayat Al-Khaddura (W), digital and broadcaster journalist, killed on 20 November Khamis Salem Deab, editor at Al Quds
Radio, killed on 20 November
Jamal Hanieh, editor at Amwaj Sports Media Network, killed on 21 November Mohamad Nabil Al-Zaq, journalist for Quds TV,
killed on 22 November
Assem Al-Barsh, journalist for Palestinian Al-Ray radio, killed on 22 November
Muhammad Moin Ayyash, photojournalist, killed on 23 November
Amal Zahed (W), journalist, killed on 24 November
Mustafa Bakir, journalist and cameraman for Al Aqsa TV, killed on 24 November Nader Al-Nazli, technician for Palestine
TV, killed on 25 November
Abdallah Darwish, photojournalist for Al Aqsa TV, killed on 1 December Muntaser Al-Sawaf, photographer for Anadolu
Agency, killed on 1 December Marwan Al-Sawaf, photographer for Alef Media, killed on 1 December
Adham Hassouna, freelance journalist, killed on 1 December
Hassan Farajallah, executive at Al Quds TV, killed on 3 December
Shaima Jazzar (W), freelance journalist, killed on 4 December
Ala Atallah (W), journalist, killed on 9 December
Mohamed Abu Samra, photojournalist, killed on 9 December
Duaa Jabbour (W), freelance journalist for Eyes Media Network, killed on 9 December Narmeen Qawwas (W), intern at Russia
Today, killed on 11 December
Abdul Karim Odeh, journalist and former Al-Mayadeen correspondent, killed on 13 December Samer Abu Daqqa, cameraman for
Al Jazeera Arabic, killed on 15 December Assem Kamal Moussa, journalist for Palestine Now, killed on 16 December Haneen
Ali Al-Qashtan (W), journalist for Sawt Al Watan Radio, killed on 17 December Abdallah Alwan, media worker for Al
Jazeera owned platform Midan, killed on 18 December Mohammad Nasser Abu Hweidy, photojournalist for Al Istiqlal
newspaper, killed on 22 December
Ahmad Jamal Madhoun, deputy director at Al Rai news agency, killed on 23 December Mohammad Saidi (Khalifa), director at
Al Aqsa TV, killed on 24 December Mohammad Abdul Khaleq Al Ghuf, photojournalist for Al Rai news agency, killed on 24
December
Huthaifa Lulu, broadcast engineer at Prisoners Radio, who previously worked for Al Quds TV, killed on 24 December
Mohammad Khair Al Din, archiving officer at Al Aqsa TV, killed on 28 December Ahmad Khair Al Din, photojournalist for Al
Aqsa TV, killed on 28 December Jaber Abu Hedrous, correspondent for Al-Quds TV, killed on 29 December Akram Al Shafei,
correspondent for Safa News Agency, killed on 5 January Hamza Al-Dahdouh, journalist for Al Jazeera, killed on 7 January
Mustafa Thuraya, freelance videographer for Agence France Presse, killed on 7 January Heba Al-Abdallah (W), journalist,
killed on 9 January
Ahmad Bdeir, journalist for local magazine Hadaf News, killed on 10 January Mohammed Jamal Sabahi Al Thalathin,
journalist for Al Quds TV, killed on 11 January Yazan Al-Zuweidi, photographer for Al Ghad TV, killed on 15 January
Iyad Ahmed Al-Ruwahi, correspondent and presenter for Voice of Al Aqsa Radio, killed on 26 January
Mohamed Abdel El Fatah Atta Allah, editor for Al-Risala newspaper, killed on 29 January Nafez Abdel Jawad, director of
Palestine TV, killed on 8 February
Alaa al-Hams (W), journalist for local media, killed on 12 February
Angham Ahmed Adwan (W), journalist for Libyan channel February, killed on 12 February
Mohammad Yaghi, photojournalist for a number of international media, including Al Jazeera, killed on 23 February
Ibrahim Mahamid, journalist, presenter and cameraman for Al-Salam TV, Al-Shaab TV and other local media, killed on 1
March
Mohammed Khader Ahmad Salama, journalist and presenter for Al-Aqsa TV, killed on 5 March Abdel Rahman Saima,
photohrapher and producer for Raqmi TV, killed on 15 March Mohammed Al-Rifi, photojournalist, killed on 15 March
Saher Akram Rayyan, media worker for WAFA news agency, killed on 25 March Mohammed Abu Sakhil, editor and graphic
designer for Shams News Agency, killed on 28 March
Amna Mahmoud Hamid, presenter and newspaper editor, killed on 6 May
Moataz Mustafa Al-Ghafrit, photojournalist for the Ard Canaan website and the Palestinian Media Corporation, killed on 6
May
Mahmoud Jahjouh, photojournalist for the Palestine Post website, killed on 6 May Hael Al-Najjar, editor at Al-Aqsa Media
Network, killed on 6 May 2024
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People for Palestine is an organisation committed to advocating for the human rights of Palestinians. For 76 years,
Palestinians have been subjected to oppression, ethnic cleansing and apartheid. In light of the current genocide
happening in Gaza, People for Palestine urges the New Zealand government to impose immediate economic, diplomatic and
military sanctions on Israel, grant humanitarian visas to family members of New Zealand Palestinians and publicly
reinstate our funding for the United Nations Relief & Works Agency (UNRWA).
https://cpj.org/2024/03/news-outlets-express-solidarity-with-journalists-in-gaza/amp/