Brussels launches fund to support Palestinian media

In a significant international precedent, the International Federation of Journalists, in partnership with the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate and several international organizations, announced the launch of a fund to support independent Palestinian media. The announcement was made at a conference held in the European capital, Brussels, attended by a broad array of European and Arab officials and Palestinian journalists.
The conference was opened by IFJ president Anthony Bellanger, who said Palestine is experiencing one of the most complex humanitarian tragedies, with more than 220 journalists — men and women — having been killed while carrying out their duties, at a time when the Palestinian people have suffered tens of thousands of casualties.
Bellanger stressed that the fund’s goal is to protect Palestinian journalists and ensure the continuity of their work, pointing to previous successful experiences with the International Public Media Support Fund.

For his part, Minister Ahmed Assaf, head of the Broadcasting and Television Authority, said the occupation had failed to silence the Palestinian narrative despite its direct targeting of journalists, noting that more than 230 journalists have been killed since the start of the aggression, some alongside their families.
Assaf said: “Killing journalists is a war crime, but the Palestinian truth has prevailed before the world,” announcing that the Palestinian government is working to enact a law specific to the fund to ensure its transparent and effective operation.

Monir Sattor, chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights in the European Parliament, said the parliament has issued clear warnings to Israel that it must stop its crimes against journalists, stressing that “being a journalist in Palestine means living the war and risking your life and your family’s life every day.”
Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate head Nasser Abu Bakr revealed shocking figures, saying the number of journalists killed in the Palestinian press has risen to 248 since the start of the aggression, an average of one martyr every three days.
He pointed to documentation of more than 1,640 attacks against journalists, affirming that the Israeli targeting is the result of an official political decision — a reality that makes the fund an existential necessity to sustain Palestinian media, which is now operating from temporary tents after its offices were destroyed.
Nishan Lalouni, director of the International Public Media Support Fund, confirmed his organization’s commitment to continue backing Palestinian media, citing a successful funding experience that supported 22 media outlets, including six in Gaza, which provided salaries for dozens of journalists.
He also emphasized the need for field studies and clear legislation to increase the number of funders and ensure the continuity of support.

Hala Tannous, UNESCO’s director of media and communication, said her organization supports the fund and considers independent media the cornerstone of civilized societies, stressing the importance of transparency and independence and announcing the continuation of training and protection programs for Palestinian journalists.
Several directors of Palestinian media organizations also participated, presenting the main daily challenges facing Palestinian journalism amid targeting and destruction.