South African Media Unites in Outrage Over the Killing of Journalists in Gaza

South African media organisations and journalists have launched a resolute condemnation of the recent spate of killings targeting their colleagues in Gaza. These developments have stirred widespread solidarity across major cities, prompting calls for international intervention and the urgent safeguarding of press freedom.

Outrage Grows as Journalist Death Toll Mounts

The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF), joined by advocacy groups including the Campaign for Free Expression (CFE) and Campaign on Digital Ethics (CODE), has issued a powerful statement denouncing the systematic targeting of journalists in Gaza as not only an assault on individuals but on the very principles of media freedom and international humanitarian law.

The situation escalated when two Gaza-based journalists were killed in rapid succession: Mohamed Mansour and his family were struck by an airstrike in Khan Younis, followed within the hour by Al Jazeera journalist Hossam Shabat, who was fatally targeted while reporting.

These new casualties brought the number of media personnel killed in Gaza since October 2023 to approximately 208 , a figure that has now surpassed fatalities recorded in major conflicts like World War II and Vietnam combined.

Solidarity Vigils Echo Across South Africa

Vigils were held in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, and beyond. Journalists and citizens laid flowers and candles by memorial displays featuring the faces of slain journalists. Many gathered at Cape Town’s St George’s Cathedral, a site steeped in history as a beacon against oppression.

Speakers highlighted that these attacks extend beyond physical violence, they strike at the soul of journalism. Being on the frontlines should not mean being a casualty. Journalist Qaanitah Hunter reminded the audience that when narratives dehumanise Palestinians, the risk to journalists only intensifies.

Legal Advocacy and Ethical Accountability

Beyond public displays, legal and institutional wings of South Africa’s media community have stepped forward. SANEF reaffirmed that targeting journalists is a war crime and a flagrant violation of international protocols that recognize reporters as protected civilians.

Moreover, media watchdogs have also scrutinised domestic press ethics. Publications were reminded of their duty to declare conflicts of interest, after revelations emerged that some journalists had accepted trips to Israel financed by external groups without transparent disclosure.

A Call from the Frontlines: The Cost of Bearing Witness

At an event in Cape Town titled “Journalism on the Frontline,” Palestinian photojournalist Belal Khaled shared a harrowing testimony. He described the moral and emotional burden of surviving in Gaza while colleagues around him perished:

“If we turn off our cameras, the truth disappears. Each crime must be documented. These are not numbers, these are names, lives, families.”

Khaled’s words resonated deeply with attendees and reaffirmed the unbreakable duty journalists feel to bear witness, no matter the cost.

The Broader Implications and International Response

South Africa’s rising voice is part of a broader international discourse. Local journalists emphasise that when press freedom in one place is undermined, it threatens media integrity worldwide. As SANEF’s project manager Hopewell Radebe put it: “When journalists are silenced, the truth goes dark globally”.

Additionally, these developments mirror South Africa’s broader legal dispatches on the global stage. The country has lodged a genocide complaint against Israel at the International Court of Justice, underscoring its commitment to international justice and the defense of oppressed voices.

Conclusion: Press Freedom at the Crossroads

The killings of journalists in Gaza are not isolated tragedies—they are attacks on truth, on accountability, and on humanity’s collective right to know. South African media’s unified response — through vigils, advocacy, and legal engagement — sends a clear message: press freedom cannot be silenced. It must be defended. As citizens and media practitioners around the globe look toward Gaza, the question looms: if we allow journalists to be erased, who will keep holding power to account?

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