Gaza media office calls for protecting journalists

GAZA, Palestine (AA) - The government media office in the Gaza Strip called Sunday for the protection of journalists and press workers, condemning Israeli attacks in which dozens of them have been killed as well as reporting cyberattacks on a number of local media outlets.

“We call on international and regional human rights and journalists' organizations to provide protection for press crews," said the statement, which was obtained by Anadolu.

"We condemn the attacks that killed and wounded dozens of journalists and hold the occupation accountable for them.”

On Saturday evening, the media office said that 46 journalists had been killed in the Gaza Strip in Israeli attacks since Oct. 7.

The statement was also issued after a number of Palestinian websites were subjected to “Israeli attacks.”

"Some Palestinian websites came under cyberattacks, causing them to stop working, including the website of the official Al-Ray Palestinian Media Agency, Al-Resala.net, the SAFA Palestinian Press Agency and the PalToday News Agency," it added.

The media office said this was “a blatant attack on freedom of opinion and expression" as well as "a miserable attempt that reflects Zionist desperation to silence the Palestinian voice.”

"Silencing Palestinian voices indicates that the occupation is preparing to commit more crimes and is seeking to eliminate witnesses by all means," it said.

The Israeli army expanded air and ground attacks last week on the Gaza Strip, which has been under relentless airstrikes since a surprise offensive by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas on Oct. 7.

The number of Palestinians killed in Israeli bombardments in the Gaza Strip has risen to 9,770, the Health Ministry in the blockaded enclave announced Sunday.

“The death toll as a result of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7 is 9,770, including 4,800 children and 2,550 women,” the ministry said in a statement.