Last Saturday the Israeli military bombed and destroyed the 13-floor building that housed Al Jazeera, The Associated Press (AP) and other media houses. This is in the ongoing war/conflict with Palestine. According to the Israeli, the labelled terrorist group Hamas was said to be using the Gaza building-which housed the media entities- to gather military intelligence.
Admittedly, Israel did forewarn these media houses the building would be attacked and gave them enough time to vacate. Though at the time of writing this editorial no known physical injuries to media personnel was recorded the building and media equipment were destroyed. The top editor of AP has called for an independent investigation.
Numerous questions have been raised about the veracity of Israel’s claim. There are also growing calls for an investigation into the attack on the building. The conflict between Israeli and Palestine – Arabs and Jews- dates back to the 1940s and escalated in 1948 when David Ben- Gurion, head of the Jewish Agency established the present state of Israel. He had the support of the United States and other Western/European powers. Since then many international efforts at peace talk and having a settlement between the two sides seems elusive.
Israel remains steadfast that the attack was justified and it was not an attack on the media but rather weeding out Hamas militants. Palestine has argued to the contrary. There is belief in both sides of the arguments. This has sparked the need for an investigation which is deserving. The media plays an important role in society.
In times of conflicts and where the Palestine/Israel’s have been ongoing for decades independent media, particularly AP, should be free to cover the events and report to the world. Darkness is not good for democracy and equally bad in times of conflict. Darkness would be very dangerous for the world and affected societies.
Amidst calls for answers the United States (U.S) Government has asked Israel to provide “justification” for the bombing of the building. This is welcoming because it sends a message to the world that the U.S, a country seen around the world as the bastion of the free press, wants to ensure the survival of free press.
The U.S is also considered Israel foremost world ally and friend in the Middle East. But such an alliance should not allow the U.S not to enquire into the bombing because it would send a dangerous message about democracy and the free press. A free and independent press is considered healthy for a functioning democracy.
The international media watchdog, Reporters Without Borders has since asked the International Criminal Court to investigate Israel’s bombing of the building as a possible war crime given that it housed the media organisations.
The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed that he is “deeply disturbed” by the strike on the international media houses. Bombing of the media building in Gaza is not only about Palestine/Israel ongoing conflict. It is also about the free press and whether it would be allowed to survive in the 21st Century, particularly in conflict torn areas.
