Latest news with #YoussefHassouna
Iraqi News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Iraqi News
International media groups urge Israel to allow access to Gaza
Paris – International news agencies Agence France-Presse (AFP), Associated Press (AP) and Reuters as well as the BBC on Thursday called on Israel to allow journalists in and out of Gaza, which is subject to a strict blockade. 'We are desperately concerned for our journalists in Gaza, who are increasingly unable to feed themselves and their families,' the media groups said in a joint statement. They added that 'journalists endure many deprivations and hardships in war zones. We are deeply alarmed that the threat of starvation is now one of them.' 'We once again urge the Israeli authorities to allow journalists in and out of Gaza. It is essential that adequate food supplies reach the people there,' they concluded. With Gaza sealed off, many media groups around the world depend on photo, video and text coverage of the conflict provided by Palestinian reporters to international news agencies such as AFP. International criticism is growing over the plight of the more than two million Palestinian civilians in Gaza, where more than 100 aid and rights groups have warned that 'mass starvation' is spreading. Since the war started following the unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas, a small number of journalists have been able to enter Gaza only with the Israeli army and under strict military censorship rules. Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in early July that more than 200 journalists had been killed in Gaza since the war began. – Evacuations – AFP news agency has published accounts of life inside Gaza from its reporters this week. It has said it is concerned about 'the appalling situation' they face due to a daily struggle to find food. 'We have no energy left due to hunger and lack of food,' said Omar al-Qattaa, a 35-year-old AFP photographer shortlisted for a Pulitzer Prize earlier this year. 'Obtaining food in Gaza is extremely difficult. Even when it is available, prices are multiplied by 100,' video journalist Youssef Hassouna said. Israel says humanitarian aid is being allowed in and accuses Hamas of exploiting civilian suffering, including by stealing food handouts to sell at inflated prices or shooting at those awaiting aid. The World Health Organization's chief warned on Wednesday of widespread starvation in Gaza, saying food deliveries into the territory were 'far below what is needed for the survival of the population'. Witnesses and Gaza's civil defence agency have repeatedly accused Israeli forces of firing on aid seekers. The UN said the military had killed more than 1,000 Palestinians trying to get food since late May. AFP succeeded in evacuating eight staff members and their families from Gaza between January and April 2024, after months of effort. – 'Starving' – The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a media freedom group, said in a statement on Wednesday that Israel was 'starving Gazan journalists into silence'. 'They are not just reporters, they are frontline witnesses, abandoned as international media were pulled out and denied entry,' CPJ regional director Sara Qudah was quoted as saying. Many Palestinian journalists have spoken out or posted about their exhaustion, with Sally Thabet, a correspondent for Al-Kofiya satellite channel, fainting after a live broadcast this week, the CPJ said. Doha-based Al Jazeera, the most influential Arabic media group, also called for global action to protect Gaza's journalists on Tuesday. The channel, which has been banned in Israel, has had five of its reporters killed since the start of the conflict in what it says is a deliberate targeting campaign by Israel. In some cases, Israel has accused reporters of being 'terror operatives', such as when it killed a Gaza-based Al Jazeera staff journalist and freelancer last year — allegations condemned by the Qatari news network. 'We know that probably most journalists inside Gaza are operating under the auspices of Hamas, and until Hamas is destroyed, they will not be allowed to report freely,' Israeli government spokesman David Mercer told a press conference last December.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
International media groups urge Israel to allow access to Gaza
International news agencies Agence France-Presse (AFP), Associated Press (AP) and Reuters as well as the BBC on Thursday (July 24, 2025) called on Israel to allow journalists in and out of Gaza, which is subject to a strict blockade. "We are desperately concerned for our journalists in Gaza, who are increasingly unable to feed themselves and their families," the media groups said in a joint statement. They added that "journalists endure many deprivations and hardships in war zones. We are deeply alarmed that the threat of starvation is now one of them." "We once again urge the Israeli authorities to allow journalists in and out of Gaza. It is essential that adequate food supplies reach the people there," they concluded. With Gaza sealed off, many media groups around the world depend on photo, video and text coverage of the conflict provided by Palestinian reporters to international news agencies such as AFP. International criticism is growing over the plight of the more than two million Palestinian civilians in Gaza, where more than 100 aid and rights groups have warned that "mass starvation" is spreading. Since the war started following the unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas, a small number of journalists have been able to enter Gaza only with the Israeli army and under strict military censorship rules. Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in early July that more than 200 journalists had been killed in Gaza since the war began. 🇵🇸 VIDEO: AFP journalist covers war as Gaza faces extreme shortages AFP video journalist Youssef Hassouna has been covering the Gaza war for 21 months. Now, extreme scarcity of food, clean water and medical care in Gaza are complicating his efforts to cover the conflict. — AFP News Agency (@AFP) July 24, 2025 Daily struggle with enforced starvation AFP news agency has published accounts of life inside Gaza from its reporters this week. It has said it is concerned about "the appalling situation" they face due to a daily struggle to find food. "We have no energy left due to hunger and lack of food," said Omar al-Qattaa, a 35-year-old AFP photographer shortlisted for a Pulitzer Prize earlier this year. "Obtaining food in Gaza is extremely difficult. Even when it is available, prices are multiplied by 100," video journalist Youssef Hassouna said. Israel says humanitarian aid is being allowed in and accuses Hamas of exploiting civilian suffering, including by stealing food handouts to sell at inflated prices or shooting at those awaiting aid. The World Health Organization's chief warned on Wednesday of widespread starvation in Gaza, saying food deliveries into the territory were "far below what is needed for the survival of the population". Witnesses and Gaza's civil defence agency have repeatedly accused Israeli forces of firing on aid seekers. The UN said the military had killed more than 1,000 Palestinians trying to get food since late May. AFP succeeded in evacuating eight staff members and their families from Gaza between January and April 2024, after months of effort. Global call to protect Gaza's journalists The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a media freedom group, said in a statement on Wednesday that Israel was "starving Gazan journalists into silence". "They are not just reporters, they are frontline witnesses, abandoned as international media were pulled out and denied entry," CPJ regional director Sara Qudah was quoted as saying. Many Palestinian journalists have spoken out or posted about their exhaustion, with Sally Thabet, a correspondent for Al-Kofiya satellite channel, fainting after a live broadcast this week, the CPJ said. Doha-based Al Jazeera, the most influential Arabic media group, also called for global action to protect Gaza's journalists on Tuesday. The channel, which has been banned in Israel, has had five of its reporters killed since the start of the conflict in what it says is a deliberate targeting campaign by Israel. In some cases, Israel has accused reporters of being "terror operatives", such as when it killed a Gaza-based Al Jazeera staff journalist and freelancer last year -- allegations condemned by the Qatari news network. "We know that probably most journalists inside Gaza are operating under the auspices of Hamas, and until Hamas is destroyed, they will not be allowed to report freely," Israeli government spokesman David Mercer told a press conference last December.
Int'l Business Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
International Media Groups Urge Israel To Allow Access To Gaza
International news agencies Agence France-Presse (AFP), Associated Press (AP) and Reuters as well as the BBC on Thursday called on Israel to allow journalists in and out of Gaza, which is subject to a strict blockade. "We are desperately concerned for our journalists in Gaza, who are increasingly unable to feed themselves and their families," the media groups said in a joint statement. They added that "journalists endure many deprivations and hardships in war zones. We are deeply alarmed that the threat of starvation is now one of them." "We once again urge the Israeli authorities to allow journalists in and out of Gaza. It is essential that adequate food supplies reach the people there," they concluded. With Gaza sealed off, many media groups around the world depend on photo, video and text coverage of the conflict provided by Palestinian reporters to international news agencies such as AFP. International criticism is growing over the plight of the more than two million Palestinian civilians in Gaza, where more than 100 aid and rights groups have warned that "mass starvation" is spreading. Since the war started following the unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas, a small number of journalists have been able to enter Gaza only with the Israeli army and under strict military censorship rules. Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in early July that more than 200 journalists had been killed in Gaza since the war began. AFP news agency has published accounts of life inside Gaza from its reporters this week. It has said it is concerned about "the appalling situation" they face due to a daily struggle to find food. "We have no energy left due to hunger and lack of food," said Omar al-Qattaa, a 35-year-old AFP photographer shortlisted for a Pulitzer Prize earlier this year. "Obtaining food in Gaza is extremely difficult. Even when it is available, prices are multiplied by 100," video journalist Youssef Hassouna said. Israel says humanitarian aid is being allowed in and accuses Hamas of exploiting civilian suffering, including by stealing food handouts to sell at inflated prices or shooting at those awaiting aid. The World Health Organization's chief warned on Wednesday of widespread starvation in Gaza, saying food deliveries into the territory were "far below what is needed for the survival of the population". Witnesses and Gaza's civil defence agency have repeatedly accused Israeli forces of firing on aid seekers. The UN said the military had killed more than 1,000 Palestinians trying to get food since late May. AFP succeeded in evacuating eight staff members and their families from Gaza between January and April 2024, after months of effort. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a media freedom group, said in a statement on Wednesday that Israel was "starving Gazan journalists into silence". "They are not just reporters, they are frontline witnesses, abandoned as international media were pulled out and denied entry," CPJ regional director Sara Qudah was quoted as saying. Many Palestinian journalists have spoken out or posted about their exhaustion, with Sally Thabet, a correspondent for Al-Kofiya satellite channel, fainting after a live broadcast this week, the CPJ said. Doha-based Al Jazeera, the most influential Arabic media group, also called for global action to protect Gaza's journalists on Tuesday. The channel, which has been banned in Israel, has had five of its reporters killed since the start of the conflict in what it says is a deliberate targeting campaign by Israel. In some cases, Israel has accused reporters of being "terror operatives", such as when it killed a Gaza-based Al Jazeera staff journalist and freelancer last year -- allegations condemned by the Qatari news network. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in early July more than 200 journalists had been killed in Gaza during the war AFP 'We have no energy left due to hunger and lack of food,' said AFP photographer Omar al-Qattaa AFP Al Jazeera has had five of its reporters killed since the start of the conflict AFP
Int'l Business Times
7 days ago
- Health
- Int'l Business Times
AFP Journalist Covers War As Gaza Faces Extreme Shortages
With fuel prices exorbitant and road travel treacherous in the war-battered Gaza Strip, AFP video journalist Youssef Hassouna has to walk for hours in the searing heat every day just to document the news. "I walk 14 to 15 kilometres (nine miles) every day to reach the news sites," he said. "This morning, I walked about a 25-kilometre round trip in search of information." More than 21 months of war between Israel and Hamas have displaced almost all of Gaza's population, triggered severe shortages of food and other essentials, and reduced much of the Palestinian territory to rubble. Hassouna, 48, said his arduous journeys, in searing heat, were "very, very difficult" and even took their toll on his shoes. "I used to change my shoes every six months," he said. "Today, I wear out a pair every month." Whether filming the chaotic scramble for meagre aid or the bloody aftermath of an air strike, Hassouna said that extreme scarcities of food, clean water and medical care in Gaza further complicated his efforts to cover the devastating conflict. Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed 59,106 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. More than 100 aid organisations and human rights groups warned on Wednesday that "mass starvation" was spreading across the population of over two million people, after Israel imposed a more than two-month aid blockade, only easing it a little in late May. Hassouna, who is based in Gaza City, said his main struggle was accessing enough food to feed himself and his family, including a sick sister who lives with him. After living through almost two years of conflict, his once full face appears drawn and his eyes sunken. "My weight used to be around 110 kilograms (over 17 stone), today it is between 65 and 70 kilograms (barely 11 stone)," he said. The deepening hunger crisis in Gaza has sent the prices of what little food there is soaring, leaving daily essentials out of reach for many. "Obtaining food in Gaza is extremely difficult. Even when it is available, prices are multiplied by 100," Hassouna said. He explained that a kilogram of lentils which used to cost three shekels ($0.90) would now set him back 80 shekels ($24). The price of rice, he said, had gone up 20 fold. "Access to water is equally difficult, whether it is fresh water or salt water," Hassouna added. "Children have to queue for four, five, six or even seven hours to collect it". Hassouna said that his work documenting the conflict sometimes posed problems with Palestinians living in Gaza, who feared Israeli reprisals against journalists. "Some like journalists, others do not," he said. "Those who support us come to talk to me, 'Tell us what's happening, when will this war end? Make our voice heard abroad, tell the whole world that we don't want war'. "Others say the opposite, "Don't come near, don't join us. Journalists are targeted by Israeli bombings'." Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in early July that more than 200 journalists had been killed in Gaza since Hamas's October 2023 attack sparked the war. That assault resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Wishing calm for future generations, Hassouna said he wanted to send a message of peace. "Since our childhood, we have lived in war, and we do not want our children -- or even (Israeli) children -- to experience this," he said. "We all want a life without conflict." More than 21 months of war have displaced almost all of Gaza's population and triggered severe shortages of food and other essentials AFP
