The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) welcomes the Human Rights Council decision on 2 October, which related to the protection of journalists during armed conflicts. The resolution calls “on all parties to armed conflict to respect international humanitarian law, including their obligations under the Geneva Conventions, of 12 August 1949, and, where applicable, the Additional Protocols thereto of 8 June 1977, whose provisions extend protection to journalists in situations of armed conflict and to allow, within the framework of applicable rules and procedures, media access and coverage, as appropriate, in situations of international and non-international armed conflict"
We hope this new resolution will contribute to provide protection for Palestinian journalists, since the Palestinian territories are still under Israeli occupation, and the area in general is still undergoing armed conflicts.
On the other hand MADA denounce the Human Rights Council decision to postpone the vote on the Goldstone’s report, because of the great pressure exerted by Israel and the United States and other international actors, on the Palestinian National Authority, which unfortunately succumbed to the pressure, in obvious conflict with the interests of the Palestinian people and their desire to justice.
The consideration of the recommendations in the report would have constituted a beginning to the investigation of crimes committed by Israel against Palestinian civilians, which include four journalists who were killed by Israeli gunfire during the Israeli aggression on Gaza at the beginning of this year, and the wounding of many journalists. Also several media organizations were bombed and destroyed.
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Contact:
Mousa Rimawi
MADA coordinator
Ramallah
madapalestine@yahoo.com
www.madacenter.org
