I condemn the killings of Ismail Al Ghoul and Ramy Al Refee. With every journalist killed, the Gaza strip becomes more and more a zone of silence, with severe consequences for access to information. I reiterate my call to respect UN Security Council Resolution 2222/2015 on the protection of journalists, media professionals and associated personnel as civilians in situations of conflict and I call for a full and transparent investigation of this tragedy.
Audrey AzoulayUNESCO Director-General
Ismail al Ghoul was a journalist working for Al Jazeera Arabic and Ramy Al Refee was a freelance camera operator. They were killed in an air strike on a car reportedly identifiable as a press vehicle, while on assignment in West of Gaza City.
UNESCO has reported the deaths of at least 33 journalists and media workers in the line of work in Palestine since October 2023, which does not include deaths in circumstances unrelated to their profession. The 2024 UNESCO/Guillermo World Press Freedom Prize was awarded to Palestinian journalists covering Gaza, paying tribute to their courage and commitment to freedom of expression.
UNESCO promotes the safety of journalists through global awareness-raising, capacity building and by coordinating the implementation of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.
