Gaza-  On Thursday 12/3/2020, journalists, media representatives, and intellectuals stressed the importance of obtaining information from its official sources, rejecting all rumors about the “Corona virus” and setting parameters to deal with the virus.

This came during a round table discussion organized by the Committee to Support Journalists and the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedom "MADA", in Gaza City, on the role of the media in maintaining social peace and continuing rumors related to "Corona virus".

Saleh Al-Masry, Chairman of the Committee to Support Journalists, praised the Palestinian media, which is always biased towards Palestinian national issues, through wars and dangers that beset the issue, appreciating its prominent and positive role in dealing with all issues.

Al-Masry drew attention to the rumors and inaccuracies that appear either intentionally or unintentionally, calling for the need to verify the information from reliable official sources. He also stressed the importance of the round table discussion in enriching and discussing all issues related to the virus, considering journalists are opinion leaders, calling for setting specifics to deal with the virus.

Dr. Ahmed Hammad, coordinator of the "MADA" center in the Gaza Strip, agreed with Al-Masry and stressed the importance of receiving information from its official sources, considering that the rumors are not media freedom.

Dr. Hammad emphasized that everyone should be free to express their opinions on various issues, but the spreading and promoting false news and rumors does not fall within the freedom of expression. He also stressed the need to respect the freedom of the media, the independence of the press, and the right to access information that enhances citizen participation in public issues and to pursue all issues transparently. and called on media institutions, journalists, activists on social media, and the general public to fight the rumors, given the damages and dangers that affect everyone, and weakening the general ability to take action to limit the spread of the virus in Palestine.

Speakers at the meeting stressed the importance of journalists being an enlightening source for the news, calling on the relevant ministries, especially the Ministry of Health, to expedite the publication of the news and the importance of transparency in reporting the news, so as not to leave an opportunity for rumors to spread.

Speakers also called for the necessity of forming an emergency room by the relevant ministries and civil institutions to educate citizens about the virus and ways to prevent it, and to create youth initiatives as awareness centers to educate citizens.

During the discussion, Dr. Hammad presented a video entitled "Rumors about Corona is not freedom of expression", which was published by the MADA center as part of its campaign to combat false news and rumors, and recommended the necessity of coordination to form a unified media center in coordination between all media outlets, institutions and government ministries concerned, in order to manage the crisis of the spread of the "Corona virus."