(Paris) American Secretary of State Antony Blinken, asked about the fate of journalists in Gaza, said he was in favor of the “unequivocal” protection of reporters in the conflict zone, in a letter sent to AFP.
The United States “will continue to emphasize to Israel, and to all countries, that journalists must be protected from all danger,” he wrote in this letter received Tuesday by AFP.
Washington “unequivocally defends the protection of journalists in armed conflicts,” he continued.
The AFP and other international media sent a joint letter to Mr. Blinken at the end of October, asking him to help protect journalists, a profession heavily bereaved in Gaza since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas.
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).
AFP and other international media also asked the US Secretary of State for help in evacuating their employees from Gaza.
The evacuation of American and foreign citizens from Gaza remains “our number 1 priority, and we are working with Egypt, the United Nations and Israel to facilitate their safe exit from Gaza,” replied Anthony Blinken.
A hundred French deputies, most of them left-wing, sent a letter to Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne on Monday, demanding that they “do everything possible” to allow “the evacuation of AFP journalists stranded in the Gaza Strip “.
Israel has imposed a total siege on the Palestinian territory since October 9, two days after the attack by Hamas commandos, who massacred 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in Israel, and took some 240 others hostage.
In retaliation, Israel shelled the Palestinian territory and launched a ground offensive on October 27, interrupted at the end of November by a week of truce, during which 105 hostages were released. But hostilities have since resumed.
According to the Hamas government, more than 18,000 people, the vast majority women and minors, died.