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The erosion of press freedom through violence against journalists in the Middle East

Motion for a resolution | Doc. 16204 | 23 June 2025

Signatories:
Ms Saskia KLUIT, Netherlands, SOC ; Ms Sibel ARSLAN, Switzerland, SOC ; Ms Magdalena BIEJAT, Poland, SOC ; Ms Laura CASTEL, Spain, UEL ; Ms Gabrielle CATHALA, France, UEL ; Ms Sevilay ÇELENK, Türkiye, UEL ; Mr Benjamin DALLE, Belgium, EPP/CD ; Mr Constantinos EFSTATHIOU, Cyprus, SOC ; Ms Heike ENGELHARDT, Germany ; Mr Emmanuel FERNANDES, France, UEL ; Mr Paul GALLES, Luxembourg, EPP/CD ; Mr Gerardo GIOVAGNOLI, San Marino, SOC ; Ms Kristina IKIĆ BANIČEK, Croatia, SOC ; Ms Bisera KOSTADINOVSKA-STOJCHEVSKA, North Macedonia, SOC ; Mr Christophe LACROIX, Belgium, SOC ; Mr Saša MAGAZINOVIĆ, Bosnia and Herzegovina, SOC ; Mr Didier MARIE, France, SOC ; Ms Luz MARTINEZ SEIJO, Spain, SOC ; Ms Carla MOONEN, Netherlands, ALDE ; Ms Wanda NOWICKA, Poland, SOC ; Mr Berdan ÖZTÜRK, Türkiye, UEL ; Ms Valérie PILLER CARRARD, Switzerland, SOC ; Ms Agnes Sirkka PRAMMER, Austria, SOC ; Mr Ivan RAČAN, Croatia, SOC ; Ms Sandra REGOL, France, SOC ; Mr Stefan SCHENNACH, Austria, SOC ; Ms Sabrina SEBAIHI, France, SOC ; Ms Céline THIÉBAULT-MARTINEZ, France, SOC ; Ms Gala VELDHOEN, Netherlands, SOC ; Ms Zeynep YILDIZ, Türkiye, NR

Since 7 October 2023, at least 184 journalists and media workers – predominantly Palestinian – have been killed in the Israel-Gaza conflict, making it the deadliest war for journalists in recent history. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (non-profit organisation), at least 17 were killed in direct connection with their professional work in Gaza, Lebanon and Israel.

Among those killed:

  • Bilal Jadallah, a prominent journalist and chair of Press House-Palestine, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on 19 November 2023;
  • Ayat Khadoura, a freelance journalist and podcaster, died with her family in a strike on her home in Beit Lahia;
  • Samer Abu Daqqa, an Al Jazeera cameraman, was fatally wounded by a drone strike while covering an earlier attack on a UN-run school.

Beyond these killings, press freedom is being eroded through legislative measures and political intimidation. Notably, the Israeli Knesset is considering a bill that would criminalise journalists whose reporting is cited by international courts.

These developments signal a broader and urgent threat to global press freedom. Violence, impunity, and legal repression against journalists undermine not only freedom of expression but also democratic accountability and the right to inform and be informed.

The Parliamentary Assembly should urgently examine these threats – including killings, intimidation, and repressive legislation – and assess their implications for international norms safeguarding media workers. It must also consider whether such actions are compatible with the values and obligations of the membership or partnership status to the different bodies of the Council of Europe.