Reporters Without Borders files 3rd complaint with ICC about Israeli war crimes against journalists

By Nur Asena Erturk

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) filed its third complaint with the International Criminal Court about Israeli war crimes against journalists, according to a statement.

The complaint was filed on May 24, the Paris-based RSF said in a statement on Tuesday.

This complaint is “asking the prosecutor to investigate crimes against at least nine Palestinian reporters between 15 December and 20 May, as well as, more broadly, the more than 100 journalists that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have killed since 7 October (2023) in Gaza,” the non-profit said.

The RSF added that it filed two previous complaints on Oct. 31 and Dec. 22, 2023, and the third one detailing “eight new cases of Palestinian journalists killed between 20 December and 20 May, as well as the case of a journalist who was injured.”

“Impunity endangers journalists not only in Palestine but also throughout the world. Those who kill journalists are attacking the public's right to information, which is even more essential in times of conflict. They must be held accountable, and RSF will continue to work to this end, in solidarity with Gaza’s reporters,” RSF’s advocacy and assistance director Antoine Bernard said.

Israel has killed nearly 36,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7 last year, which killed around 1,200 people.

More than seven months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered it to ensure its forces do not commit acts of genocide and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.