A group of Malaysian media organizations, clubs, and unions known as Save Press 4 Gaze (SP4G) is urging the international community to take a stand against the violence faced by journalists reporting on the Palestine occupation. SP4G spokesperson Sairien Nafis has stated that the local media is calling for a ceasefire to stop the violence against journalists and civilians, aligning their stance with the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate.
The coalition, which consists of 150 media personnel from 26 clubs, associations, and unions across the country, held a peaceful rally at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur to demand the protection of press workers covering the atrocities by Israel. Sairien emphasized the importance of reporting from local media in the Gaza enclave, providing balanced coverage of the ongoing violence faced by the Palestine people.
They are particularly concerned about the deliberate targeting of journalists, citing an investigation by Reporters Without Borders into Israeli strikes in South Lebanon that resulted in the death of a Reuters videographer and injuries sustained by six other journalists. Sairien stressed the urgent need for international action to protect journalists operating in conflict zones.
Furthermore, Sairien is holding the West accountable for any dehumanizing rhetoric that could contribute to justifying the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. He called on Western newsrooms to ensure the protection of Gazan journalists and condemn any actions that jeopardize their safety. The international media, according to Sairien, has a responsibility to uphold journalistic integrity by providing fair and accurate coverage of the ongoing conflict.
The coalition is standing in solidarity with the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate to condemn the targeting of their colleagues in Gaza. They view the journalists covering the conflict in Gaza as invaluable assets to the global media landscape, acknowledging their brave efforts to report amidst the chaos and destruction.
SP4G’s peaceful rally at Dataran Merdeka was attended by media personnel from various organizations, as they held posters to call for the protection of journalists covering the conflict in Palestine. Sairien stated that the international community must take immediate steps to ensure the safety of journalists operating in conflict zones, highlighting the urgent need for protection.
He also urged colleagues in Western media outlets to heed the call for fair coverage and an end to oppression in relation to the ongoing conflict. The coalition is calling for an end to the violence faced by journalists and civilians in Palestine, emphasizing the need for international action to safeguard the journalists operating in conflict zones.
