Press Freedom Day: 135 journalists murdered by Israel, 100 detained in relentless war – Palestine
As nations across the globe marks the World Press Freedom Day 2024, the State of Palestine has expressed its support for Nigerian journalists on this year’s occasion, highlighting the challenges faced by press workers in the conflict-ridden Middle East nation.
Abdullah Abu Shawesh, the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, conveyed this in his message to celebrate the event obtained by Afri Reporters.
He lamented the tragic situation of journalists in Palestine, revealing that Israeli Occupation Forces have been responsible for the deaths of 135 journalists, the detention of 100, and the disappearance of four individuals. Among those detained, 45 are held under ‘administrative detention’.
The Ambassador in a signed a statement in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, said “it is worth mentioning that UNESCO awarded the Palestinian press correspondents covering the Israeli genocidal war in Gaza the 2024 UNESCO Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize for their brave and courageous work.”
Speaking on the death toll of journalists in the ongoing war in the enclave, the ambassador explained that the” Israeli Occupation Army killed 135 press correspondents, detained another 100, with 45 of them under administrative detention, and 4 of them are still missing.”
Meanwhile, the director of the Arab States Regional Bureau of the UN Development Program (UNDP) has explained that reconstruction in Gaza is estimated to take more than 10 years and cost over $40 billion.
UNDP’s plan on the early recovery phase planned for Gaza is estimated to take three to five years and cost $2 to 3 billion, Abdallah al Dardari told reporters, adding that the long-term reconstruction plan will take decades.
Pointing out that the human development index for Palestine has regressed by 20 years, compared to 40 years for Gaza, al Dardari said that Gaza is almost back to the 80s.
All investments in human development in the Palestinian territories over the last 20 years and in Gaza in the previous 40 years have been wiped out, he said.
