Lawyers representing killed or maimed journalists file complain with ICC against ‘Israel’
London (QNN)- Lawyers, representing four Palestinian journalists, who were killed or maimed by Israeli snipers while reporting from demonstrations in Gaza, filed on Wednesday a complaint against the occupation state with the International Criminal Court.
The lawyers, representing Ahmed Abu Hussein, Yaser Murtaja, Muath Armaneh and Nedal Eshtayeh, stated that the occupation state is systematically targeting journalists to prevent coverage of its human rights violations.
Three of the journalists were shot during protests in 2018 and 2019; Eshtayeh was shot in May 2015. All of them were wearing vests marked PRESS when they were shot, and are among 46 Palestinian journalists killed in Israel since 2000 without any accountability, the legal team said.
“Israel systematically targets, attacks, maims and kills journalists to prevent accountability for its human rights violations,” said Tayab Ali, a partner at London-based Bindmans, one of the law firms involved. “This cannot be allowed to continue.”
The complaint was submitted “with the aim of finally ending Israel’s impunity and allowing the free press to properly and safely hold the Israeli authorities to account”, he added.
The complaint also cited the bombing of several towers that housed media offices, including those of Alam News, Al Hayat Newspapers, Mayadeen Media and Al Bawaba 24, in Gaza City this May.
Bindmans, along with barristers from Doughty Street Chambers, filed the complaint on behalf of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate and the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians have been closely involved.
