PRESS FREEDOM UNDER THREAT: Uhuru wa Vyombo vya Habari Upo Hatarini

 

Israel's actions aim to silence Palestinian journalists and prevent the dissemination of truth to the world. Despite facing intimidation, arrest, and violence, Palestinian journalists persist in their mission to expose the reality of the conflict.

BY HAMDI MANSOUR ABUALI: Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Tanzania

The aggressor in public usually needs arguments to justify his unacceptable and undesirable actions. This attacker can succeed in justifying his shameful and criminal actions if he is able to convince those around him that his crimes are not considered unacceptable crimes. Here comes the role of those who know and are informed to convey to the general environment the truth about what the aggressor is doing, or at least document what the aggressor is doing and make room for the public to decide its position on these actions based on its background and morals.

Here comes the role of the most sacred profession, which is considered the fourth pillar in many countries that claim freedom, morals, or democracy, which is the profession of journalism and media.

In Palestine, a state that claims freedom and democracy attacks defenseless people living inside their homes. They are bombed, killed, and their homes, streets, neighborhoods, markets, farms, factories, universities, schools, and vital centers are destroyed, completely annihilating them and leaving no hope for them to survive or settle in their country and homeland. This state is trying to convince everyone around it that all of its described actions are for justified reasons, that there is no real aggression on its part, that there are no unjustified attacks, and that there are no healthy or innocent people, and that it can convince influential parties that what it is doing does not constitute an assault, according to its opinion. .

Thus, that country may mislead the world that its actions are not aggressive and that there is no harm to innocent Palestinians and no destruction like how they did years ago during analog era. To achieve this, she prevented any members of the press from entering to document any of her actions or to convey to others the truth about what she is doing. Accordingly, the mission of the press and media remained the responsibility of Palestinian journalists, and they were able to convey what they were able to convey to the world despite their limited capabilities, not being allowed to transmit any news to the public, and despite their direct and intentional targeting.

 According to the  Chairman of the Freedoms Committee of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, Muhammad al-Laham, on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day 3^rd May, 33 Palestinian workers in the media sector have been killed by Israel since the beginning of this year 2024, in addition to 102 who were killed at the end of 2023, while One colleague was killed in the city of Tulkarm - WestBank, and 33 families of journalists were killed as a result of the bombing of their homes. He added that 100 male and female journalists have been arrested by Israeli forces since October 7, of whom 45 journalists remain in detention, most of whom were transferred to administrative detention without any charges or reason, while 4 journalists are still missing.

But to silence those Journalists and media workers the occupation targeted 77 journalists’ homes in the Gaza Strip with aircraft missiles and artillery shells, while the occupation completely or partially destroyed 86 offices and media institutions, while the current year witnessed the injury of 18 journalists with bullets, 19 with missile fragments, 19 with beatings and abuse, and 26 injuries. With tear gas and sound bombs, there were 5 cases of threatening shooting towards journalists, 4 cases of assault even by settler-colonists, 5 cases of summons for investigation, 3 cases of imposing bail and a fine, 39 cases of detention and prevention of coverage and photography, 36 cases of confiscation and destruction of work equipment, and 18 cases of storming, raiding Journalists homes and 16 press offices then closed and destroyed.

As a result of this aggression; 25 local radio stations in Gaza stopped working, and the journalistic situation was damaged due to the continuous and intense interruption of communications and the Internet, which is the basis of journalistic work (transmission of news and images).

However, despite all these attempts aimed at preventing Palestinian journalists from conveying the truth about what is happening to the public outside Palestine, they succeeded in conveying a small part of what happened and was implemented, and they documented, to the extent available, the actions of the aggressor claiming democracy and righteousness. A part of the public knew some of the news and events, and thus the journalist Despite all these challenges, the Palestinians fulfill their true humanitarian and moral mission to convey the image and let the public decide their opinion based on the facts they have learned, and not just follow the justifications and claims of the rich aggressor, who is funded, supported and assisted by powerful global powers.

Today we salute the steadfastness and boldness of the Palestinian journalist who carried out this mission in the best possible way. We also salute those who received these news and facts, appreciated them and allowed them to be published and delivered to the public.

Comradely salute to those international journalists from international media outlets who resisted wrong information, which led to some of them being fired because they wanted the truth to be spoken publicly.

The effects of this sacred journalistic work have begun to appear as  the representative of the International Federation of Journalists, Mounir Zaarour, confirmed that the International Federation of Journalists and all press unions stand by the Palestinian journalist, cooperate in an integrated manner to serve the Palestinian journalistic body, and prepare documents to submit a special file on the journalists who were murdered during the war of extermination on Gaza, to be submitted to the criminal court. As the Israeli occupation kills male and female journalists because they could do that without accountability, pointing out the need to hold the occupation accountable for its crimes against workers in the media sector.

 

UHURU WA VYOMBO VYA HABARI UPO HATARINI

Vitendo vya Israel vinanuia kuzima waandishi wa habari wa Kipalestina na kuzuia ukweli usifike ulimwenguni. Licha ya kukabiliana na vitisho, kukamatwa, na vurugu, waandishi wa habari wa Kipalestina wanashikilia misheni yao ya kufichua ukweli wa mzozo.

 

Na Hamdi Mansour Abuali: Balozi wa Nchi ya Palestina Tanzania

 

Mshambuliaji katika umma mara nyingi huhitaji hoja za kujitetea vitendo visivyokubalika na visivyotamaniwa. Mshambuliaji huyu anaweza kufanikiwa katika kujitetea vitendo vyake vya kuaibisha na vya jinai ikiwa ataweza kuwashawishi wale wanaomzunguka kwamba uhalifu wake si uhalifu usiokubalika. Hapa ndipo jukumu la wale wanaofahamu na kufahamishwa linapokuja kufikisha ukweli kwa mazingira ya jumla kuhusu kinachofanywa na mshambuliaji, au angalau kuandika kinachofanywa na mshambuliaji na kuacha nafasi kwa umma kufanya uamuzi wake kuhusu vitendo hivi kulingana na historia na maadili yake.

Hapa ndipo linapokuja jukumu la taaluma takatifu zaidi, ambayo inachukuliwa kuwa nguzo ya nne katika nchi nyingi ambazo zinadai uhuru, maadili, au demokrasia, ambayo ni taaluma ya uandishi wa habari na vyombo vya habari.

Ukifika Palestina, nchi ambayo inadai uhuru na demokrasia (ISRAEL), inashambulia watu wasio na ulinzi wanaoishi ndani ya nyumba zao. Wanabomolewa, kuuawa, na nyumba zao, mitaa, majirani, masoko, mashamba, viwanda, vyuo vikuu, shule, na vituo muhimu vinaharibiwa, kufutiliwa mbali kabisa na kuacha hakuna matumaini kwao ya kuishi au kuweka makaazi yao katika nchi yao na ardhi yao. Nchi hii inajaribu kuwashawishi wote walio karibu naye kwamba vitendo vyake vilivyoelezewa vyote ni kwa sababu wana haki, kwamba hakuna uchokozi wa kweli upande wake, kwamba hakuna mashambulizi yasiyofaa, na kwamba inaweza kuwashawishi vyama vikuu kwamba kile wanachokifanya sio mashambulizi, kulingana na maoni yake.

Kwa hivyo, nchi hiyo inaweza kuwadanganya ulimwengu kwamba vitendo vyake havina uchokozi na kwamba hakuna madhara kwa Wapalestina wasio na hatia na hakuna uharibifu kama walivyofanya miaka iliyopita wakati wa zama za analog. Ili kufanikisha hili, aliwazuia wanachama wote wa vyombo vya habari kuingia kudhibitisha vitendo vyovyote au kufikisha ukweli kwa wengine juu ya kile anachofanya. Kwa hivyo, jukumu la vyombo vya habari na vyombo vya habari lilibaki kuwa jukumu la waandishi wa habari wa Kipalestina, na walifanikiwa kufikisha walichoweza kufikisha kwa ulimwengu licha ya uwezo wao mdogo, hawakuruhusiwa kusambaza habari yoyote kwa umma, na walilengwa kwa nia mbaya ya kuwadhuru.

Kulingana na Mwenyekiti wa Kamati ya Uhuru wa Chama cha Waandishi wa Palestina, Muhammad al-Laham, kwa kumbukumbu ya Siku ya Uhuru wa Vyombo vya Habari Duniani, Mei 3, waandishi wa habari 33 wa Kipalestina wameuawa na Israel tangu mwanzo wa mwaka huu wa 2024, pamoja na 102 waliouawa mwishoni mwa 2023, wakati Mwandishi mmoja aliuawa katika jiji la Tulkarm - WestBank, na familia 33 za waandishi wa habari waliuawa na kuharibiwa nyumba zao. Aliongeza kwamba waandishi wa habari wakiume na wakike 100 wamekamatwa na vikosi vya Israel tangu Oktoba 7, ambapo waandishi wa habari 45 wamebaki kizuizini, wengi wao walipelekwa kizuizini kwa kifungo cha utawala bila mashtaka au sababu yoyote, wakati waandishi wa habari 4 bado hawajulikani walipo.

Lakini ili kuwanyamazisha waandishi wa habari hao na wafanyikazi wa vyombo vya habari, ukoloni ulilenga nyumba za waandishi wa habari 77 katika Ukanda wa Gaza kwa makombora ya ndege na mabomu ya artileri, wawaliharibu ofisi 86 na taasisi za vyombo vya habari, wakati mwaka huu ulishuhudia majeraha ya waandishi wa habari 18 kwa risasi, 19 kwa makombora, 19 kwa kipigo na unyanyasaji, na majeraha 26. Kwa gesi ya kutoa machozi na mabomu ya sauti, kulikuwa na kesi 5 za kutishia kwa risasi kwa waandishi wa habari, kesi 4 za uvamizi hata na walowezi-wakoloni, kesi 5 za wito kwa uchunguzi, kesi 3 za dhamana na faini, kesi 39 za kuzuiliwa na kuzuia chanzo na picha, kesi 36 za kunyakua na kuharibu vifaa vya kazi, na kesi 18 za uvamizi wa nyumba za waandishi wa habari na kufunga na kuharibu ofisi za vyombo vya habari.

 

Kama matokeo ya uchokozi huu; Vituo vya redio 25 vya ndani katika Ukanda wa Gaza vilisitisha kazi, na hali ya uandishi wa habari ulikuwa mashakani kutokana na kukatika kwa mawasiliano na mtandao wa intaneti, ambao ni msingi wa kazi ya uandishi wa habari (usambazaji wa habari na picha).

Hata hivyo, licha ya jitihada zote hizi za kuzuia waandishi wa habari wa Kipalestina kufikisha ukweli kwa umma nje ya Palestina, wamefanikiwa kufikisha sehemu ndogo ya kinachotokea na kutekelezwa, na wamethibitisha, kwa kiwango chao, vitendo vya mshambuliaji anayedai demokrasia na uadilifu. Sehemu ya umma ilijua baadhi ya habari na matukio, na kwa hivyo waandishi wa habari Licha ya changamoto zote hizi, Wapalestina wanatimiza misheni yao ya kibinadamu na ya maadili ya kufikisha taswira na kuacha umma uamue maoni yake kulingana na ukweli walioujifunza, na sio tu kufuata hoja na madai ya mshambuliaji tajiri, ambaye ameandaliwa na kusaidiwa na nguvu kubwa za ulimwengu.

Leo tunapongeza uthabiti/uthubutu na ujasiri wa mwandishi wa habari wa Kipalestina ambaye ametekeleza jukumu hili kwa njia bora kabisa. Pia tunapongeza wale walioipokea habari hii na ukweli, walioukubali na kuuruhusu kuchapishwa na kuwasilishwa kwa umma.

Salamu za udugu kwa waandishi wa habari wa kimataifa kutoka vyombo vya habari vya kimataifa ambao wamepinga habari potofu, hata kama imewapelekea baadhi yao kufutwa kazi kwa sababu walitaka ukweli utamkwe hadharani.

Madhara ya kazi hii takatifu ya uandishi wa habari yameanza kuonekana kama mwakilishi wa Shirikisho la Kimataifa la Waandishi wa Habari, Mounir Zaarour, alithibitisha kwamba Shirikisho la Kimataifa la Waandishi wa Habari na vyama vyote vya waandishi wa habari wanasimama na mwandishi wa habari wa Kipalestina, wanashirikiana kwa njia iliyosheheni kuhudumia mwili wa uandishi wa habari wa Kipalestina, na kuandaa nyaraka kuwasilisha faili maalum juu ya waandishi wa habari waliouawa wakati wa vita vya kutoweka Gaza, kuwasilishwa kwa mahakama ya jinai. Kwa sababu ukoloni wa Kiyahudi unaua waandishi wa habari wakiume na wakike kwa sababu wanaweza kufanya hivyo bila kuwajibika, ikibainisha haja ya kuwawajibisha ukoloni kwa uhalifu wake dhidi ya wafanyakazi katika sekta ya vyombo vya habari.