September 26 marks the International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian Journalists, initially declared by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) in 1996 after the heroic “tunnel uprising” in appreciation of the vital role of the media in society. It was also declared to express appreciation for the journalists’ sacrifices and the challenges they continue to face in their everyday work, covering Palestinian refugees’ suffering and the violations of the Israeli occupation forces, particularly against occupied Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

On the International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian Journalists, the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas states the following:

First: Hamas prays to Allah Almighty to have mercy on the souls of the Palestinian martyrs for the truth, grant the wounded a speedy and complete recovery, and free all detainees from the Israeli occupation’s jails.

Second: We salute and express profound gratitude to all steadfast media professionals and journalists who are keen to expose the deceitfulness of the Israeli propaganda, defend our legitimate rights, promote the steadfastness of our people and the Palestinian narrative, and generate a Palestinian, Arab, Islamic, and international public opinion that supports the Palestinians’ legitimate rights and resistance.

Third: The Israeli occupation’s targeting of Palestinian journalists by persecution, arrest, deportation, and cold-blooded killing, disregarding the international laws that protect journalists, are crimes against humanity that will not be taken away by prescription. These crimes will fail to hide the true face of the Israeli occupation and its violations.

Fourth: we call to afford the Palestinian journalists and media professionals protection so that they can carry out their work freely, free all journalists languishing in Israeli jails, and hold Israeli leaders accountable for their heinous violations against them, particularly the killing of Al Jazeera correspondent, Shireen Abu Akleh, Gufran Warasneh, and sentencing Lama Ghousha from occupied Jerusalem to house arrest.

Fifth: The assault and terrorism practiced against Palestinian media outlets by shutting them down, destroying and bombing their headquarters, especially during the May 2021 offensive against the Gaza Strip, and the repeated attempts to censor Palestinian content on social media, are a biased policy in favor of the Israeli occupation that serves its racist agenda and contributes in misleading the world public opinion.

Sixth: We call on Palestinian, Arab, Islamic, and international media institutions to coordinate against the Israeli occupation’s propaganda in order to expose its crimes against the Palestinian lands, people, and sanctities.

Finally, Hamas Reiterates its appreciation for all Palestinian journalists and media professionals across Palestine and in the diaspora, pro-Palestine journalists from the Arab and Islamic nations, and the free peoples of the world.