On this occasion, the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas stated the following: 

December 31 marks the Palestinian Journalists Day in appreciation of their role and sacrifices for the sake of delivering a national media message. 

On this day, Hamas salutes all Palestinian media workers who have set an honourable example in delivering professional performance and a national message, defying Israeli occupation violations and aggression aimed at suppressing Palestinian voices.   
  
Hamas believes in the power of words, just as in weapons, in the struggle against the Israeli occupation. Palestinian journalists have expressed their strong determination to expose Israeli occupation crimes in all languages, document its terror, and write about the Palestinian people’s steadfastness and commitment to their rights, holy sites, and national constants, as well as raising international awareness towards the Palestinian cause.  

Practicing journalism, presenting the image of national steadfastness, exposing Israeli occupation crimes, and preserving the Palestinian collective memory are acts of resistance; Palestinian journalists at home and in diaspora have done so very well.  

Dozens of Palestinian journalists have been killed, injured, or detained for the sake of siding with the truth and expressing their belonging to their homeland and people. 

During its May assault, the Israeli occupation destroyed 59 media offices in the Gaza Strip and assassinated Palestinian journalist Yousef Abu Hussein in a direct air strike on his home in Gaza City.    

International media organisations, associations, and syndicates should voice solidarity with Palestinian journalists and defend them in the face of repeated Israeli occupation assaults intended to deter them from fulfilling their journalistic duty. 

As it highly appreciates the efforts exerted by Palestinian journalists and media outlets to report on events in the occupied Palestinian territories, Hamas calls on them to put in further efforts to expose the Israeli occupation crimes. 

Hamas Movement
Friday, 31 December 2021