Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, has condemned Israel’s systematic targeting of Palestinian journalists, attributing it to unwavering Western support, particularly from the US. He honored over 200 media workers killed while exposing Israeli atrocities. Hamas and UN officials have also warned of the dangers journalists face in Gaza.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, has condemned Israel’s systematic targeting of Palestinian journalists, attributing it to the unwavering support of Western allies, particularly the United States.

On World Press Freedom Day, Baghaei praised the bravery of journalists, photographers, and videographers who, over the past two years, risked their lives to document the suffering of Palestinians and expose what he described as colonial genocide.

“We honor over 200 media workers who fell victim to the genocidal campaign they sought to unveil,” Baghaei stated in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday.

He emphasized that these journalists were deliberately targeted for their commitment to documenting the extreme pain and suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and exposing the atrocities committed by the occupying regime.

Baghaei further accused Israel’s allies, including the United States, of complicity in these crimes, stating that those who support, enable, or justify Israeli actions must also be held accountable.

Hamas, in an earlier statement, echoed similar concerns, asserting that Israel’s continued attacks on Palestinian media reflect its deep fear of the press’s ability to expose its crimes and aggression against the Palestinian people.

Ajith Sunghay, representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, has described Gaza as one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists, highlighting the severe risks faced by media workers in the region.