Press freedom groups demand Israel authorizes medical evacuation of 2 Al Jazeera journalists

CPJ joined Free Press Unlimited and Reporters without Borders in calling on Israeli authorities to authorize the evacuation of Fadi Al Wahidi (left) and Ali Al-Attar, both camera operators for Al Jazeera, who were critically injured while reporting in Gaza.
Fadi Al Wahidi (left) and Ali Al-Attar, both camera operators for Al Jazeera, were critically injured while reporting in Gaza. (Photo: AFP/Omar Al-Qattaa; Screenshot: Al Jazeera/YouTube)

The Committee to Protect Journalists, Free Press Unlimited, and Reporters Without Borders urgently called on the Israeli military office responsible for humanitarian coordination, COGAT, to authorize the evacuation of two critically wounded journalists who require immediate, lifesaving medical treatment.

The letter, a rare public plea, follows frustrated diplomatic efforts and direct appeals to COGAT by the three press freedom organizations since the journalists — Ali Al-Attar and Fadi Al Wahidi, camera operators for Al Jazeera — sustained severe injuries while working in Gaza last week.

“The Israeli military’s duty under international humanitarian law is to protect civilians, including journalists, and to ensure the wounded receive timely medical assistance,” the organizations wrote.

This month, CPJ released a Special Report showing the lack of justice for journalists targeted by Israel, despite strong evidence of war crimes. One year into the Israel-Gaza war, 128 journalists have been killed, 126 of them by Israeli fire.

Read the full report and more CPJ coverage of the Israel-Gaza war


Tanzania’s media regulator bans outlets as journalists harassed

Composite of an animated video, published in the The Citizen newspaper, of a character resembling President Samia Suluhu Hassan watching television coverage of recent reported killings and abductions of government critics. (Screenshots: SK Media Online TV/CPJ)
The Citizen published an animated video of a character resembling President Samia Suluhu Hassan watching TV coverage of recent reported killings and abductions. (Screenshots: SK Media Online TV/CPJ)

Instead of providing the latest news updates, the homepages of three leading Tanzanian newspapers are focused on their own suspension over a video seen as critical of the president, as concerns mount over deteriorating press freedom ahead of elections.

The Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority issued a 30-day suspension order for Mwananchi Communications Limited’s online publications, affecting the websites and social media pages of its three newspapers — the English-language daily The Citizen, the Swahili-language Mwananchi and the sports-focused Mwanaspoti. The regulator accused MCL of publishing prohibited content that “aimed to ridicule and harm the reputation, prestige and status” of the country.

Read more

Safety Resources

Need further assistance? Contact us.

The Committee to Protect Journalists promotes press freedom worldwide.

We defend the right of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal.

Journalists Attacked

Myat Thu Tan

MURDERED

Myat Thu Tan, a contributor to the local news website Western News and correspondent for several independent Myanmar news outlets, was shot and killed on January 31, 2024, while in military custody in Mrauk-U in Myanmar’s western Rakhine State.

He was arrested on September 22, 2022, and held in pre-trial detention under a broad provision of the penal code that criminalizes incitement and the dissemination of false news for critical posts he made on his Facebook page. Myat Thu Tan had not been tried or convicted at the time of his death.

The journalist’s body was found buried in a bomb shelter, with the bodies of six other political detainees, and showed signs of torture.

Myanmar’s military junta has cracked down on journalists and media outlets since seizing power in a February 2021 coup.

In at least 8 out of 10 cases, the murderers of journalists go free. CPJ is waging a global campaign against impunity.

journalists killed in 2024 (motive confirmed)
imprisoned in 2023
missing globally