The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, has strongly condemned the Israeli army’s ongoing campaign to silence journalists documenting atrocities in the besieged Gaza Strip.

In a statement posted on X, Lazzarini expressed outrage over the killing of five more Palestinian journalists in Gaza City, describing it as part of a deliberate strategy to suppress the truth.

“Since the war began, more than 200 Palestinian journalists have been reported killed with total impunity,” he stated, underscoring the alarming pattern of targeting media workers in one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists.

He stressed that Israel’s restrictions extend beyond local reporters, as the regime continues to block the entry of international journalists into Gaza, effectively preventing independent reporting on the scale of destruction, civilian casualties, and humanitarian suffering that have persisted for nearly two years.

“Journalists must be protected, and international media must be allowed into Gaza to support the heroic work of their Palestinian colleagues,” Lazzarini said, paying tribute to those risking—and losing—their lives to expose the reality of Israel’s aggression.

The UNRWA chief warned that without unrestricted access for journalists, disinformation will flourish, and the world will remain vulnerable to narratives that obscure the magnitude of the atrocities being committed.

Observers note that the killing of journalists has become a hallmark of the Israeli occupation’s war strategy, as silencing eyewitnesses not only obstructs the truth from reaching the global community but also deepens the culture of impunity. Palestinian media organizations have repeatedly called on the international community, human rights bodies, and press freedom advocates to take urgent action to protect journalists and hold Israel accountable for its crimes against the press.

As the siege and bombardment of Gaza continue, Lazzarini’s call serves as a stark reminder that the fight for truth is inseparable from the fight for justice and the protection of human life in Palestine. (ILKHA)