Several French journalist associations are calling on the French government to help the evacuation of Palestinian journalists, fixers and drivers who have been covering or helping to cover the war in Gaza for the past 18 months.
“Without them, Gaza would be a black hole of news,” reads a statement signed by associations of journalists of about 20 French media organisations, including RFI.
French news organisations have relied on local journalists and support staff for reporting from Gaza, which has been under bombardment from Israel since Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, killing over 1,200 people and abducting over 250.
Local journalists “keep you informed about the ongoing horror in the territory, while the Israeli government has constantly hindered coverage of the war by the international press by denying access to the Gaza Strip”, the statement continues.
The journalist associations have called on the French government to help evacuate the employees, much like it did for Afghan interpreters and other support staff for the French army.
The journalists are in particular danger now that Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu has threatened to take control of Gaza, the journalist associations warn.
"Our colleagues and their families are in mortal danger," the statement reads.
More than 200 Palestinian journalists have been killed since the start of the war, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
