Palestinian minister calls for protection of journalists and Palestinians
Assaf told the Arab Media Ministers Council that Israel is waging a parallel war against Palestinians and their land, and that 263 journalists have been killed.
Ahmad Assaf, general supervisor of the Palestinian Official Media, called on Wednesday for protection of Palestinians and journalists so they can keep reporting conditions on the ground, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.
Assaf made the remarks while delivering Palestine's address at the 56th regular session of the Arab Media Ministers Council at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo.
The meeting was chaired by Somali Minister of Information, Tourism and Culture Abdulfattah Qasim Mahmoud, and Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy attended.
Assaf urged Arab and international media institutions to document Israeli crimes against Palestinian journalists and the Palestinian people, expose the truth and deliver it to the world.
He said Palestinian media faces a parallel war that targets the people, the land and the Palestinian narrative.
Assaf described the situation in Gaza as devastated and under siege, saying Palestinians face killing and starvation.
He said the situation in the occupied West Bank was no less dangerous, citing thousands of military checkpoints, land seizures, attacks on residents and the theft of livestock and crops.
Assaf also said occupied Jerusalem is under siege, pointing to the desecration of al-Aqsa Mosque and restrictions on Muslim and Christian worship.
He said foreign journalists have been barred from entering Gaza and physically assaulted, citing recent incidents involving a Washington Post correspondent and photographer and an earlier incident involving a CNN crew.
Assaf said Israel seeks to continue committing genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity beyond international scrutiny, and he cited an estimated 300,000 people killed, injured or missing in Gaza.
He also said about 80 percent of homes and other structures in Gaza, including schools, hospitals and places of worship, have been destroyed.
Assaf said 263 journalists have been killed while carrying out their professional duties.
He praised the role of Arab and independent media worldwide in supporting the Palestinian narrative, saying it shows the importance of media in defending just causes.