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PALESTINIAN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
PRESS RELEASE
Ref.: 50/2003
Date: 20 April, 2003
PCHR condemns the killing of a Palestinian journalist PCHR condemns in the strongest terms the killing by the Israeli military yesterday morning of a Palestinian journalist in Nablus. PCHR notes with alarm the ongoing escalation of Israeli military attacks against the press, characterized by not only the excessive and indiscriminate use of force against journalists and other civilians, but also the specific targeting of media personnel and institutions, in an attempt to silence the press and prevent public reporting of Israeli military actions.
According to information received by PCHR directly from eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers opened fire yesterday morning at cameraman, Nazeeh Adel Dawazah. Dawazah, 45, from Nablus city and father of five, was a cameraman working for Palestine TV and Associated Press. Dawazah was killed instantly by a bullet to the head. The incident took place at around 7am during an Israeli military incursion into the middle of Nablus city. Dawazah was filming a Palestinian child who was lying wounded on the ground near an Israeli tank. According to eyewitness testimony, one of the soldiers inside the tank pointed his gun towards Dawazah from a distance of just a few metres. Dawazah, who was wearing a jacket clearly inscribed with the word “Press”, was heard to clearly identify himself to the soldier as a member of the press. However, the soldier fired one bullet at Dawazah hitting him in the head near the left eye. He died instantly.
Two other journalists, and dozens of Palestinian civilians, including children, were also injured during the Israeli military incursion yesterday.
PCHR condemns this latest targeted killing of a clearly identified journalist. This is the latest in what appears to be a policy of targeting journalists, both Palestinian and international. The number of journalists killed by Israeli military whilst carrying out their work since the beginning of the current Intifada to date is 6; 5 Palestinians and one Italian national. A further 94 journalists have been injured by the Israeli military in the OPTs.
PCHR calls upon the international community, including the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to fulfill their obligations, including under articles 1 and 146 of the Convention, to ensure Israel’s respect of the Convention in the OPTs, and to search for and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches of the Convention, including willful killings of protected persons.
Public Document
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PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. Web:http://www.pchrgaza.org
