New York, February 29, 2024—Dozens of news organization leaders from across the world, including the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and Reuters, have joined an open letter (full text below) affirming their solidarity with journalists reporting in Gaza. The letter, coordinated by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) with the support of the World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), demonstrates strong and unified support for colleagues reporting from Gaza in the deadliest conflict for journalists ever documented by CPJ. “For nearly five months, journalists and media workers in Gaza – overwhelmingly, the sole source of on-the-ground reporting from within the Palestinian territory – have been working in unprecedented conditions,” the letter reads. “…These journalists – on whom the international news media and the international community rely for information about the situation inside Gaza – continue to report despite grave personal risk.” The letter goes on to remind the international community that journalists are civilians and authorities must protect journalists as noncombatants according to international law. A total of at least 94 journalists have been killed in the Israel-Gaza war; the majority of them (89) were Palestinians killed by the Israeli military. The signatories include outlets from Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, India, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Pakistan, the Philippines, Qatar, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Additional signatories are welcome. Please contact [email protected] to add your news organization, including name of signatory, title, and name of organization. About the Committee to Protect Journalists The Committee to Protect Journalists is an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide. We defend the right of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal. Read the full letter below Open letter on journalists in Gaza We, the undersigned, stand united with Palestinian journalists in their call for safety, protection, and the freedom to report. For nearly five months, journalists and media workers in Gaza – overwhelmingly, the sole source of on-the-ground reporting from within the Palestinian territory – have been working in unprecedented conditions: at least 89 have been killed in the war, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, more journalists than have ever been killed in a single country over an entire year. These journalists – on whom the international news media and the international community rely  for information about the situation inside Gaza – continue to report despite grave personal risk. They continue despite the loss of family, friends, and colleagues, the destruction of homes and offices, constant displacement, communications blackouts, and shortages of food and fuel. Journalists are civilians and Israeli authorities must protect journalists as noncombatants according to international law. Those responsible for any violations of that longstanding protection should be held accountable. Attacks on journalists are also attacks on truth. We commit to championing the safety of journalists in Gaza, which is fundamental for the protection of press freedom everywhere. Signatories 

1. Kim Godwin, President, ABC NEWS
2. Phil Chetwynd, Global News Director, Agence France-Presse
3. Hossam Kanafani, Editor in Chief, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed
4. Nora Younis, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Al-Manassa, Egypt
5. Alaa al Ghatrevy, Editor in Chief, Al Masry Al Youm, Egypt
6. Ghassan Hajjar, Managing Editor, An-Nahar, Lebanon
7. Rawan Damen, Director General, ARIJ (Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism)
8. Shiro Nakamura, President, The Asahi Shimbun, Japan
9. Julie Pace, Executive Editor, Associated Press
10. Simon Spanswick, Chief Executive, Association for International Broadcasters
11. Deborah Turness, CEO, BBC News
12. Hikmet Adal, Editor, Bianet, Turkey
13.  Ingrid Ciprián-Matthews, President, CBS News
14. Mark Thompson, Chairman and CEO, CNN Worldwide
15. Daoud Kuttab, Director General, Community Media Network, Jordan
16. Branko Brkic, Editor in Chief, Daily Maverick, South Africa
17. Alia Ibrahim, Co-founder / CEO, Daraj, Lebanon
18. Khaled Elbalshy, President, Egyptian Journalists Syndicate
19. Mohamed Saad Abdel Hafiz, Egyptian Journalists Syndicate / Managing Editor, Al-Shorouk, Egypt
20. Patrick Mayoyo, Director Editorial Innovations, Eyewitness Africa, Kenya
21. Roula Khalaf, Editor, Financial Times
22. Giuseppe Di Maula, Editor in Chief, FotosIntensi, Italy
23. Laurie Hays, Editor in Chief/CEO, The Fuller Project
24. Katharine Viner, Editor in Chief, The Guardian
25. Aluf Benn, Editor in Chief, Haaretz
26. Geordie Grieg, Editor in Chief, The Independent
27. Sandy Prieto-Romualdez, Chairperson, Inquirer Group of Companies, The Philippines
28. Deirdre Veldon, Managing Director, former Deputy Editor, The Irish Times, Ireland
29. Rachel Corp, Chief Executive, ITN UK
30. Andrew Dagnell, Editor, ITV News UK
31. Terry Tang, Interim Executive Editor, Los Angeles Times
32. Mohammed Al-Fazari, CEO and Editor in Chief, Muwatin Media Network
33. Rameeza Nizami, Managing Director, Nawaiwaqt Group, Pakistan
34. Pamella Sittoni, Group Managing Editor, Nation Media Group, Kenya
35. Rebecca Blumenstein, President, Editorial, NBC News
36. David Remnick, Editor, The New Yorker
37. AG Sulzberger, Publisher, The New York Times
38. Edith Chapin, SVP & Editor in Chief, NPR, United States
39. Martha Ramos, President, World Editors Forum / Chief Editorial Officer, Organización Editorial Mexicana, Mexico
40. Amalie Kestler, Managing Editor in Chief, Politiken, Denmark
41. Hans Väre, Editor in Chief, Postimees Grupp, Estonia
42. Alan Rusbridger, Editor, Prospect magazine, UK
43. Lara Bitar, Editor in Chief, The Public Source, Lebanon
44. Ritu Kapur, CEO, The Quint, India
45. Maria Ressa, CEO and Co-Founder, Rappler Inc.
46. Alessandra Galloni, Editor in Chief, Reuters
47. Ayman Mhanna, Executive Director, Samir Kassir Foundation
48. Kamal Siriwardana, Editor in Chief, SMN24Media, Sri Lanka
49. Nwabisa Makunga, Editor in Chief, The Sowetan, South Africa
50. Dirk Kurbjuweit, Editor in Chief, Der Spiegel
51. Esther Ng, Chief Content Officer, Star Media Group Berhad, Malaysia
52. Wolfgang Krach, Editor in Chief, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Germany
53. Wafaa Haidar, Director, Tele Liban, Lebanon
54. Anne Marie Owens, Editor in Chief, Toronto Star, Canada
55. Lyas Hallas, Co-founder/CEO, Twala, Algeria
56. Fernando Belzunce, Editorial Director, Vocento, Spain
57. Assaad Maroun, Chairman / General Manager, Voice of Lebanon
58. Sally Buzbee, Executive Editor, The Washington Post
59. Vincent Peyrègne, CEO, World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA)