Israeli killing of journalists suppresses Palestinians' voice, press freedom: official

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Israeli killing of journalists suppresses Palestinians' voice, press freedom: official

2026-01-23 16:01 Last Updated At：01-25 12:47

Palestinian journalists and media unions are condemning the killing of several reporters in Gaza by Israeli strikes, calling it a deliberate suppression of the Palestinian people's voice and a violation of press freedom.

Hospitals in Gaza reported that Israeli forces killed at least 11 Palestinians on Wednesday, including two children and three journalists, in the latest violence to undermine a three-month-old ceasefire.

Israeli officials said the journalists were operating a drone near military positions, a claim which the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate has rejected.

"Israel's targeting of journalists is ongoing, confirming that what is happening is an assassination campaign. The Israeli occupation does not want the Palestinian image and voice to reach the world, which is why we have witnessed this massacre, adding to the long list of crimes committed by the occupation against journalists," said Ahed Farawneh, secretary general of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate.

Media workers said more than 260 Palestinian journalists have been killed since the conflict began, describing the attacks as part of a broader effort to silence coverage from the ground.

"The killing of fellow journalists is a premeditated and deliberate act of murder. Evidence shows that since the beginning of the war, Israel has killed around 267 journalists, and three more colleagues have now been added to that toll while they were on a purely humanitarian mission," said Palestinian journalist Ahmed Ghanem.

"The accusation is filming with a drone. Unfortunately, any journalist who uses a drone to film is effectively sentencing themselves to death. These kinds of targeted attacks against journalists prevent others from using this tool in their work," said Shorouq Shaheen, another Palestinian journalist.

At least 25 killed as landslide, flash floods hit Indonesia's West Java

At least 25 people were killed when a landslide accompanied by flash floods struck the Cisarua sub-district in West Bandung Regency of Indonesia’s West Java province early Saturday, local media reported.

An estimated 80 residents are still missing, according to reports.

The disaster occurred at around 3:00 a.m. local time. Residents reported hearing a loud rumbling sound before soil and mud swept from Pasirkuning Village toward Pasir Kuda Village.

Dozens of houses were reported to have been buried by landslide debris and mud, causing severe damage to residential areas near the affected site.

Rescue operations have been hampered by difficult terrain, thick landslide debris, and the risk of further rainfall.

Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency has deployed about 250 trained personnel to search for the missing.

The operation involves multiple agencies, supported by drones, tracking dogs and limited heavy equipment due to unstable terrain, the agency said.

Local authorities have urged residents living near the affected area to remain alert and stay away from landslide-prone zones, citing the risk of secondary disasters due to unstable soil conditions.