Reuters Halts Gaza Location Sharing After Journalist Deaths!
Reuters has stopped sharing the locations of its teams in the Gaza Strip with the Israeli military after a series of incidents in which journalists were killed by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) strikes. This decision follows a particularly deadly attack on Nasser Hospital on Monday, where a Reuters cameraman, regularly operating a live position on the hospital's roof, was among five journalists and 22 other people killed.
According to a Reuters spokesperson, the news agency, like other outlets, initially shared the locations of its teams with the IDF at the start of the conflict. The intention was to ensure journalists would not be targeted. This included repeatedly informing the IDF that Reuters journalists were operating from Nasser Hospital, where the recent strikes were filmed by Al Ghad TV.
"We subsequently desisted from giving precise coordinates of our teams after so many journalists were killed in IDF strikes," the spokesperson stated. Reuters had been running a live feed from the location for the past 18 months.
The IDF, in response to a request for comment, stated it had "no further comment beyond the statement that has been put out." Following the incident, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a "tragic mishap."
In a statement released Tuesday, the IDF claimed an initial inquiry found that troops identified a camera at the hospital used to observe them “in order to direct terrorist activities against them.” The statement continued that “troops operated to remove the threat by striking and dismantling the camera.”
The decision by Reuters highlights the growing concerns surrounding the safety of journalists covering the conflict in Gaza. The increasing number of journalists killed has raised serious questions about the IDF's targeting practices and the protection afforded to members of the press in conflict zones.
This situation underscores the critical importance of independent journalism in conflict zones and the need for all parties to ensure the safety and protection of journalists as they report on events.