(C) RFI

Paris, France – The French National Journalists' Union (SNJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) have jointly filed a criminal complaint against unnamed individuals within the Israeli authorities, accusing them of obstructing press activity in Palestinian territories and committing war crimes against French journalists.

The complaint, lodged recently with the war crimes division of France's National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office, targets alleged impediments to journalistic work in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, as well as alleged war crimes committed against French media personnel. The news was reported by France Info on December 4 (local time).

Systematic Obstruction and Threats in the West Bank

The organizations highlighted multiple instances of intimidation and assault against French reporters covering events in the West Bank. These include journalists being threatened with firearms and subjected to flashbang attacks.

One French journalist was cited as having endured a "severe assault that amounts to a war crime." According to the joint complaint, this journalist was targeted by "around 50 Israeli citizens, armed with guns, gasoline cans, and clubs," in a "severe attack" that involved "hours of pursuit and a night of terror," leaving the reporter in fear.

Gaza: A Complete Media Blackout

A key focus of the complaint is the Israeli government's refusal to grant foreign media independent and unfettered access to the Gaza Strip. The unions contend that since the war broke out between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas on October 7, 2023, "no French journalist has been able to enter the Gaza Strip independently," condemning what they describe as a "systematic media blockade" by the Israeli side.

Currently, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) permits only limited access to Gaza for certain foreign media, and only on condition that they are accompanied by the military. Even under these conditions, the IDF severely restricts reporting activities by imposing stringent limits on filming locations, interview subjects, and duration of stay.

Professional and Legal Action

The groups have stressed that the complaint is "in no way political or diplomatic in nature," asserting that it is raised purely "on professional, ethical, and legal grounds."

Louise El Yafi, one of the lawyers involved in filing the complaint, told France Info that while access to other conflict zones, such as Ukraine, Syria, and Iraq, has often been difficult, they have "never been completely blocked like this." She denounced the situation, describing it as "a systematic, organized, and long-term blockade."

El Yafi emphasized the profound implications of this blockage for democratic accountability. "This complaint touches upon the core of democracy," she stated. "A conflict that happens in the dark becomes a conflict without witnesses. Depriving the public of footage, testimonies, and independent verification from that region is tantamount to depriving the public of a public debate."

The legal action seeks to challenge the alleged use of restrictive measures and violent intimidation that prevent independent reporting, arguing that such actions erode the public's right to information and accountability in a major international conflict. The filing serves as a powerful testament to the risks journalists face while attempting to report from conflict zones and highlights growing international concerns over press freedom in the region.

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