Venezuela Condemns Hateful Slaying of Al Jazeera Journalists, Dismisses Israel's Gaza Occupation Strategy
In the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the international community has expressed widespread condemnation of the escalating violence, calling for restraint, humanitarian access, and an immediate halt to Israel's plans for a full military takeover of Gaza.
Israel's actions have resulted in devastating consequences. Since October 2023, Israeli forces have killed over 60,000 Palestinians and displaced millions during their relentless bombing of Gaza. The UN's top human rights official, Volker Türk, has emphasized that Israel's military takeover of Gaza violates international law and will cause further massive displacement, killing, and suffering.
The destruction of essential infrastructure, communities, and cultural and historical landmarks has been widespread. Over 73 media institutions in Gaza have been destroyed by Israeli airstrikes, and another 15 media outlets have been forced to close in the West Bank. The journalists killed in these attacks include Anas al-Sharif, Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, Moamen Aliwa, and freelance reporter Mohammed al-Khali.
The Venezuelan government has been a vocal critic of Israel's actions, describing the journalists' assassination as a "war crime" and part of Israel's "systematic strategy to silence the press." Venezuela denounced Israel's planned occupation of Gaza as an escalation of genocide and barbarism by the Zionist occupation. The Maduro government urged recognizing Palestine as a full UN member with East Jerusalem as its capital, restoring its 1967 borders, and ensuring the safe return of all Palestinians.
The international community has also highlighted Israel’s impunity for crimes and annexation attempts, calling for accountability. The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that 500,000 people in Gaza are on the brink of famine, with Gaza health officials reporting that more than 200 people have recently starved to death due to inadequate and insufficient humanitarian aid provision.
Occupation forces have killed hundreds of Palestinians in food distribution operations, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. The Venezuelan Solidarity Movement with Palestine Al Awda held a rally in front of the United Nations headquarters in Caracas, demanding the expulsion of Israel for its war crimes.
While the material found does not explicitly focus on targeted killings of journalists like those from Al Jazeera, the broader condemnation of civilian casualties and calls to abide by international humanitarian law imply strong concern over attacks on all civilians, including journalists, who are protected under international laws on armed conflict. The emphasis on humanitarian access and protection of civilians implicitly covers media personnel in conflict zones.
Despite the international outcry, Israel has not been held accountable for targeting journalists or its smear campaign against the Palestinian press. The current international response is characterized by calls for de-escalation, respect for international law including protections for civilians and journalists, urgent humanitarian aid access, and long-term efforts towards ending the occupation and achieving a two-state solution. However, geopolitical divides lead to varied emphases among states between supporting Israel’s right to self-defense and condemning its military actions and occupation practices.
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