Legal Protection for Journalists During Armed Conflicts According to the Provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention: An Applied Study of the 2023 Israeli Aggression on the Gaza Strip

Mahmoud W M Abuwazna; Areej N J Dokhan

doi:10.18502/kss.v10i28.20106

Authors

Mahmoud W M Abuwazna Al-Aqsa University, Gaza https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1803-0166
Areej N J Dokhan Al-Aqsa University, Gaza

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v10i28.20106

Keywords:

Geneva, humanitarian, international, journalists, war

Abstract

This article examines the legal framework for the protection of journalists during armed conflict in light of the rules of international humanitarian law, particularly the Geneva Conventions and their additional protocols. It highlights the grave risks faced by journalists in conflict zones which may include direct targeting despite their status as civilians who must be respected and protected. The 2023 attack on the Gaza Strip witnessed unprecedented violations against journalists, with more than 219 journalists killed and dozens of media organizations directly targeted and destroyed. These acts constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and warrant consideration for their classification as war crimes and possibly even crimes against humanity, if proven to be intentional and systematic. This article presents the legal frameworks governing the protection of journalists, particularly in the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian territories during the 2023 assault on the Gaza Strip. It reviews the legal accountability mechanisms available to halt Israeli violations against journalists during the war and to prosecute those responsible for these violations, including through the International Criminal Court. Furthermore, it explores the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows states to prosecute Israeli officials for these violations if they are arrested. In addition, there are international commissions of inquiry, along with human rights and media organizations, that document these violations and disseminate them through local, regional, and international media outlets, thus calling for those responsible to be held accountable. This article emphasizes that continued impunity poses a threat to the principle of protecting journalists and encourages the recurrence of violations. It calls for serious international action to ensure the protection of journalists, as they are the first line of defense for the truth during armed conflicts, especially Palestinian journalists who convey the truth and expose the crimes of the Israeli army during the assault on the Gaza Strip.

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Legal Protection for Journalists During Armed Conflicts According to the Provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention: An Applied Study of the 2023 Israeli Aggression on the Gaza Strip

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