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| [FILE PHOTO: Al Jazeera English/ CC BY-SA 2.0] |
Geneva: The head of United Nations agency tasked with defending press
freedom, Irina Bokova, is alarmed by the escalation of violence in Israel and
Gaza.
In a news release, Bokova condemned the killing of three
Palestinian journalists—Mahmoud Al-Komi, Hossam Salameh Mohammed and Abu Eisha—
in air strikes on 20 November.
“I am deeply concerned about the reported targeting of media
facilities and personnel that have left three Palestinian journalists dead:
Mahmoud Al-Komi, Hossam Salameh Mohammed and Abu Eisha. The civilian status of
journalists and their right to carry out their professional duties should be
respected,” the UNESCO chief said.
She also voiced alarm over reports that media were being
targeted in the air strikes and rocket fire between southern Israel and Gaza,
and that schools were being hit.
Bokova said, “I am equally alarmed by strikes on schools in
both Gaza and southern Israel. Schools should offer a safe environment for
children. Attacks against them is a denial of the right to education and should
be firmly condemned,”
“I wish to join my voice to the UN Secretary-General, whose
paramount concern is for the safety and well-being of all civilians,” she
concluded.
Meanwhile, Office of the High Commission for Human Rights
(OHCHR) has informed that at least 57 Palestinian civilians, including 18
children, are confirmed as having been killed, according to OHCHR monitors who
say the death toll had doubled in the past 48 hours. Ten more people were
killed overnight but it was unclear how many were civilians.