Press freedom comes under brutal attack in the Gaza

It is obligatory on the part of adherents of democracy the world over to bow their heads in remorse and reverence to the memory of five Al-Jazeera journalists who were killed in what appears to be a targeted Israeli military strike in the Gaza. Prominent among them was Anas al-Sharif, a journalist who won the esteem of the world of democracy for his courageous and conscientious reporting of the endemic suffering of the people of the Gaza.

- BY LYNN OCKERSZ

The killing of the journalists would, rightly, be seen by the defenders and practitioners of democracy as an attempt at suppressing press freedom and the freedom of expression. That is, two fundamental freedoms of humanity have been brazenly violated. In other words, truth-seeking has been murderously assaulted. It is up to the civilized world to ensure that it is not allowed to bleed to death.

Very rightly, press freedom is considered a defining essence of democracy. Minus press freedom and the closely allied freedom of expression humanity would verily 'be in chains'. Accordingly, it is the responsibility of all those who cherish their individual and collective freedoms to denounce the killing of the Al-Jazeera journalists. They need to stand up and be counted.

The recent killing of the five journalists in the Gaza was preceded by the 2022 killing in the West Bank, in an Israeli attack, of PalestinianAmerican journalist Shireen Abu Aqla. What makes their killings particularly remorseful and revolting is the fact that they were felled in 'targeted', coldly calculated attacks. That is, the truth was sought to be suppressed. Accordingly, democratic opinion the world over is the poorer by their unconscionable slaying.