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Workers’ Memorial Day
We remembered colleagues killed in Gaza
TO MARK International Workers' Memorial Day London Freelance Branch rallied to honour colleagues killed in Gaza - on Monday 29 April on Whitehall opposite Downing Street, home of the UK Prime Minister.
"Truth is the first casualty of war" Richard Burgon - Labour MP for Leeds East - reminded the rally
Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi, the media officer of Jewish Voice for Labour (L), read a statement from Tim Dawson, deputy general secretary of the International Federation of Journalists; here with Mariam Elsayeh
British-Palestinian doctor Ghassan Abu Sitta said that Montaser Al-Sawaf, like more than 100 other journalists, was "intentionally" killed by Israel. He described the Lavender "artificial intelligence" system selecting targets for killing. Al-Sawaf, a freelance cameraman who was working for Turkey's Anadolu Agency, was killed in Israeli airstrikes in December. "Montaser and the 100 other Palestinian journalists paid with their blood so that the world can see this genocide," said Abu Sitta, who was recently elected Rector of the University of Glasgow
Recalling student protests at university campuses in the US and France in solidarity with Palestinians, he said a generation has lost faith in mainstream media outlets and finds its own sources of news from journalists directly through social media.
Participants lit candles at the end of the rally to commemorate the journalists killed
Branch members and supporters rally including (from right) Committee members Henry Broome and Mariam Elsayeh Ibrahim and Jeremy Corbyn, Independent MP for Islington North
The Deadliest Days for Journalists in War Zones Thalif Deen for Inter Press Service
The Tragic Death of Palestinian Journalists opinion by Alon Ben-Meir for Inter Press Service
The Freelance remembers fallen colleagues - sadly, this list needs to be constantly updated
International Workers' Memorial Day is strictly on 28 April. It remembers those who have lost their lives at work, or from work-related injury and diseases.
At the time of writing we had confirmed 109 journalists and media workers killed since 7 October 2023: 102 in Gaza, 3 in Lebanon, and 4 in Israel on 7 October. We have seen single reports of a further 50 deaths in Gaza. Inquiries have concluded that those killed in Lebanon were specifically targeted by Israeli armed forces while, and because, they were working as journalists. In almost all other cases it is not yet possible to be sure; it is possible that so-called 'artificial intelligence' systems targeted many of those killed in attacks on their homes in Gaza.
NUJ Dublin Broadcasting Branch held its third monthly minute's silence today "to honour journalists killed in Gaza stand for the right to report freely without threats and targeting" on 29 April.
Dublin vigil for slain journalists nuj.org.uk