(Paris) France expressed Thursday its “concerns about the heavy price” paid by journalists in the conflict between Israel and Hamas and stressed continuing its efforts to get journalists working with AFP out of the Gaza Strip.
A collective of journalists specializing in the region, including some from AFP, published an article in the daily The worldasking President Emmanuel Macron to intercede with the Israeli authorities, in order to allow Palestinian reporters working for French media to leave the Gaza Strip.
“Since the start of the war, foreign nationals have been able to leave Gaza, but the Rafah gate is closed for Palestinian employees of the French media there. And, yet, all it would probably take is a phone call,” write the authors of the column.
“The Americans did it […] France can do it. France must do it. It is our collective responsibility,” adds the collective of journalists.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was working on the issue.
“We are maintaining our efforts with regard to AFP employees,” Christophe Lemoine, deputy spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, declared at a press conference, recalling that it was “an operation complex “.
“We have worked since October to allow the exit from the Gaza Strip of French people there as well as their beneficiaries and we have ensured the exit of Palestinian agents from the French Institute in Gaza,” a- he recalled, adding that Paris had already allowed the exit of 154 people in total.
“Regarding the Palestinian employees of French companies, NGOs and as well as the personalities who are reported to us, we are always looking with our partners in the region for solutions for ensuring security outside the Gaza Strip,” he said. he also added, interviewed by AFP.
He also paid tribute to journalists killed in the exercise of their profession.
“I wish to express France’s concerns about the heavy price paid by journalists in the context of the conflict between Israel and Hamas,” he said. “Civilians must be protected and this is particularly the case for journalists. They must be able to exercise their profession freely and safely,” he said, stressing that this was an international obligation and a “moral imperative”.
At least 63 journalists and media workers — 56 Palestinians, four Israelis and three Lebanese — have died since October 7, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
Around forty journalists collaborating with the AFP and their beneficiaries hope to leave the Gaza Strip.