Türkiye’s Head of Communications Burhanettin Duran met with several journalists reporting from Gaza on the sidelines of the TRT World Forum, praising their courage and devotion in conveying the truth about the ongoing Israeli aggression to the global public.

In a post shared on his NSosyal account, Duran said he met with Sami Shehada, Sami Barhoom, Wael Dahdouh, Mahmoud Nizar Alsaadawi, and Mücahit Aydemir, all of whom have been documenting the brutal realities on the ground in Gaza amid Israel’s months-long onslaught.

Emphasizing the gravity and dignity of their mission, Duran wrote: “We met in İstanbul, on the sidelines of the TRT World Forum, with journalists reporting from Gaza — Sami Shehada, Sami Barhoom, Wael Dahdouh, Mahmoud Nizar Alsaadawi, and Mücahit Aydemir. Their efforts to convey the developments in Palestine to the international public, despite all challenges, demonstrate how vital and honourable a responsibility it is to pursue the truth. The courage and self-sacrifice of our distinguished journalists who carry out their duties under extremely harsh conditions represent the shared conscience of humanity. Their testimonies will forever hold a place in the memory of history.”

The meeting comes as Palestinian journalists continue to work under life-threatening conditions in Gaza, where Israeli bombardments have killed hundreds of media workers and destroyed numerous media offices since the start of the war in October 2023.

Among those Duran met was Wael Dahdouh, the veteran Al Jazeera correspondent who became a global symbol of journalistic courage after losing his wife, children, and grandson in an Israeli airstrike while he was reporting live. Despite his unimaginable loss, Dahdouh returned to work within days, vowing to continue telling Gaza’s story to the world.

The other journalists — Shehada, Barhoom, Alsaadawi, and Aydemir — have likewise endured extreme dangers to bring images of the devastation and testimonies of survivors to international audiences, countering attempts to suppress or distort the reality of the genocide in Gaza.

Duran’s remarks reflect Türkiye’s ongoing solidarity with the Palestinian people and its recognition of the press as a frontline in the struggle against misinformation and dehumanization.

The TRT World Forum, which brings together policymakers, academics, and journalists from around the world, devoted this year’s discussions largely to the war on Gaza, the global information war surrounding it, and the moral responsibility of media institutions in defending truth and humanity.

By hosting Gaza’s frontline reporters in İstanbul, Türkiye once again underscored its position as one of the few nations standing firmly with Palestine, honoring those who risk their lives to expose Israel’s crimes and preserve the voice of the oppressed. (ILKHA)