French journalists rally in solidarity for colleagues killed in Gaza

Hundreds of journalists joined demonstrations in Paris and Marseille on Wednesday to show solidarity with nearly 200 colleagues killed in Gaza since October 2023. More than 200 journalists, including prominent members of the French press, staged a symbolic "die-in" in Paris, laying down on the steps of the Bastille Opera as the names of the nearly 200 victims were read out loud. Many wore red-stained press vests and fake flak jackets and carried photos of journalists killed in Gaza while trying to report on the war launched by Israel following the 7 October attack by Hamas.

" Gaza has faces, not just numbers", read posters showing the photographs of their fallen Palestinian colleagues whose names were read out loud. Youssef Habash, leader of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate in Europe, condemned what he called a "genocide" and demanded an end to the Israeli blockade on the enclave. "There have never been so many casualties in our profession.



The right of citizens worldwide to be informed is compromised," said Pablo Aiquel, Secretary General of SNJ-CGT, speaking on behalf of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). Thibaut Bruttin, Director General of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), said: "This gathering comes late, perhaps too late..

. I've never seen a conflict where when a journalist dies, they're called a terrorist." Among the crowds, people waved Palestinian flags, some chanting “We will not be silent,” and “Free Palestine”.

Data collected by Hamas' health ministry puts the death toll in Gaza since the start of Israel's military response at 51,025 – data the UN considers reliable. Read more on RFI English Read also: French journalists' collective appeals for solidarity with colleagues in Gaza The Gaza Project: The Palestinian journalist paralysed by a bullet to the neck Journalists should be allowed in and out of Gaza, says Reporters Without Borders.