{"id":134,"date":"2021-11-29T13:41:24","date_gmt":"2021-11-29T13:41:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nujbranch.eu\/?page_id=134"},"modified":"2025-09-01T20:19:53","modified_gmt":"2025-09-01T18:19:53","slug":"news-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nuj-netherlands.nl\/?page_id=134","title":{"rendered":"NEWS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Tony Sheldon, chair of the NUJ Netherlands branch at the protest.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A statement from the chair of the Continental European Council (CEC).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Words might fail us.
But over 200 journalists, media workers, colleagues, have been killed in a
concerted effort to stop the world hearing their voices, seeing their footage,
reading their words.
So we cannot fail them.
We know what is going on in Gaza because of their bravery as they persevere
day after day under fire, knowing their next report could be their last.
Too many have already shared their last.
And yet, each killing seems more calculated, more deliberate, and each
justification is more flagrant and almost laughable in its contempt for the truth.
The NUJ Continental European branches, like many others, have been
supporting colleagues in Gaza, protesting and lobbying in Europe to demand
an end to the killing, an end to impunity and access to Gaza for all media.
At times like this vigils and protests matter. The world cannot be allowed to
ignore this unique scale of civilian casualties, and this planned assassination of
the voices of a people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The killing of Hossam Al-Masri, Mohammed Salama, Maryam Abu Deqa, Moaz
Abu Taha, and Ahmad Abu Aziz during the strike on Nasser hospital on Monday
has shocked many, but is not a surprise.
When bombing hospitals, media centres, schools, mosques, churches and
homes is normalised by a State through a well-funded and fine-tuned
propaganda machine, killing journalists is a logical part of the process.
So our continued support for the IFJ Safety Fund, and our solidarity and
actions which the NUJ, and its Continental members have been engaged in
since October 2023 is essential.
Last week, over 400 people, including the Chairs of NUJ Brussels and NUJ
Netherlands joined a call to action from the IFJ and others in Brussels. A call
for an end to the ongoing assassination of journalists and mediacide in Gaza.
The names of the more than 200 journalists killed were read out, recorded,
remembered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This week, the NUJ\u2019s virtual vigil joined more voices to those across the UK,
Ireland and Continental Europe who will not forget our colleagues in Gaza,
who will not forget those who have paid with their lives, and who will keep
amplifying their voices wherever we can.
As Chair of the Continental European Council, with branches in Brussels, Paris
and the Netherlands, I join my voice to theirs.
We shouldn\u2019t have to say it but we will, again and again
Israel: Stop Killing Journalists in Gaza. Stop the killing now.”
Tony Sheldon chair NUJ Netherlands branch: \u201cI joined the hundreds of
protesters in Brussels for the International Federation of Journalists
(IFJ) event. The day before we had the horrific news of the strike on the Nasser
Hospital which killed another five journalists. One felt the weight of history
upon us. Never before have so many journalists been killed in a conflict. The
mood was grim but resolved: journalists will not be silenced, will not be cowed,
we will get the story, we will speak truth to power.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Palestine: NUJ deplores killing of Al-Jazeera journalists<\/h2>\n\n\n
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The Israeli government has admitted to killing five Al-Jazeera journalists and media workers in an airstrike on a tent outside the al-Shifa hospital in Gaza last night.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least seven people were killed overall, including camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Moamen Aliwa, their assistant Mohammed Noufal, and correspondents Mohammed Qreiqeh and Anas al-Sharif. Freelance photojournalist Mohammed Al-Khaldi was also killed in the same airstrike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

al-Sharif was a prominent frontline reporter who had been threatened multiple times by Israel over his coverage of the war and the starvation of the Palestinian people. Once again the Israeli military claimed, without providing evidence, that al-Sharif was a \u2018terrorist\u2019 – though it did not comment on the five other media workers killed. Al-Jazeera rejected the claims, calling it a \u201ctargeted assassination [\u2026] in yet another blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom\u201d and a \u201cdesperate attempt to silence the voices exposing the impending seizure and occupation of Gaza.\u201d Over the last 22 months, Al Jazeera’s core team in Gaza has been wiped out with numerous journalists injured or killed by Israeli forces, who have also raided and shut down the organisation\u2019s bureau in the occupied West Bank.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Last week the NUJ joined the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Palestinian Journalists\u2019 Syndicate in condemning the smear campaign against Palestinian journalists. According to the IFJ, at least 196 journalists and media workers \u2013 including 181 Palestinians \u2013 have  been killed since 7 October 2023 making this the deadliest war for our industry in recent history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A statement posted to al-Sharif\u2019s X account following his death said: “I have lived through pain in all its details, tasted suffering and loss many times, yet I never once hesitated to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or falsification.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laura Davison<\/strong>, NUJ general secretary, said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“This is a horrific attack. We extend our deepest sympathies to the families of the murdered journalists and their colleagues. Journalists have specific rights under international law and once again these rights have been violated while other civilians have been killed as collateral damage. Israel has denied foreign reporters access to Gaza while systematically discrediting, targeting and killing local journalists. These are the activities of a government that does not want the world to witness its actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat the Israeli military openly admits to these atrocities brings into sharp focus the need for international action to end this impunity. We once again reiterate our call for the UK government, who claim to be committed to press freedom, to exert serious pressure to protect journalists, uphold international law and support an investigation by the International Criminal Court into the blatant targeting of journalists and media workers by Israeli forces. There must be immediate international action to end this obscene behaviour.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Bellanger<\/strong>, IFJ general secretary,  said: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“After a smear campaign against Gaza’s journalists, Israel has killed five Al Jazeera staff in a tent housing journalists. The deliberate targeting of journalists is a war crime and Israeli leaders must be held accountable for their heinous actions. We condemn in the strongest possible terms this deliberate killing of our colleagues and we stand in solidarity with all staff at Al Jazeera and our colleagues working in Gaza under such unacceptable circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Last week the NUJ shared an open letter for members to sign – please add your name<\/a> if you haven\u2019t done so already. We have also continued to encourage donations to the IFJ Safety Fund<\/a>, which offers practical help and solidarity.<\/p>\n\n\n

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RSF World Press Freedom Index 2025: economic fragility a leading threat to press freedom<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although physical attacks against journalists are the most visible violations of press freedom, economic pressure is also a major, more insidious problem. The economic indicator on the RSF World Press Freedom Index now stands at an unprecedented, critical low as its decline continued in 2025. As a result, the global state of press freedom is now classified as a \u201cdifficult situation\u201d for the first time in the history of the Index.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Full the full story, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Kyiv Independent’s Documentary Screening in Amsterdam and Den Haag<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Valeriia Snopkova is the producer of “Can You Hear Me? The Invisible Battles of Ukrainian Military Medics\u201d, a documentary by The Kyiv Independent that explores the mental health struggles of Ukrainian military medics. As part of a second European tour, she is bringing the film to Amsterdam <\/strong>on March 16<\/strong> and Den Haag<\/strong> on March 17<\/strong> with the support of the Embassy of Sweden <\/strong>and the Embassy of Ukraine <\/strong>in the Netherlands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said: “Our goal is to engage European leaders, journalists, and key decision-makers in an urgent conversation about the realities of war and the resilience of those on the front lines. We would deeply appreciate your help in spreading the word<\/strong>\u2014sharing invitations with activists, key community members, and students who would benefit from attending. And, of course, we would be grateful if you could join us for the screening.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please find all the necessary information below.
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Amsterdam and The Hague Screenings | Info <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The documentary \u201cCan You Hear Me? The Invisible Battles of Ukrainian Military Medics\u201d<\/strong> follows a group of Ukrainian military medics as they travel from the heat of battle in war-torn Ukraine to the serene forests of Sweden for a mental health retreat. For the first time since 2022, these medics have a chance to process the trauma they have experienced \u2013 grappling with the loss of brothers-in-arms, surviving Russian captivity, and the weight of guilt over soldiers they couldn\u2019t save. The film is directed by Francis Farrell<\/strong> and Olena Zashko<\/strong> and produced by Kyiv Independent.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Kyiv Independent<\/strong>, in partnership with the Embassy of Sweden <\/strong>andthe Embassy of Ukraine <\/strong>in the Netherlands,<\/strong> will be hosting two screenings. You can choose the city that suits you best. The film will be screened in Ukrainian with English subtitles, followed by a discussion with the film\u2019s authors in English.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amsterdam Screening:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n