Dear [Elected Official’s Name],

I am writing to express deep concern and call for immediate action to address Israel’s deliberate targeting of journalists in Gaza, an egregious violation of press freedom and human rights.

On 9 November 2024, an Israeli airstrike on a Gaza City school killed six civilians, including journalists and siblings Ahmad Abu Sakhil and Zahra Abu Sakhil. Later that day, Israeli forces targeted tents near al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, injuring several more journalists. Al Jazeera reported that the attack near the hospital struck only 20 meters from the news outlet’s own tent.

This violent targeting of journalists reflects a broader pattern of erasing the truth. By silencing those who report from the ground, Israel is depriving the world of accurate information about the human suffering caused by its actions. In just over a year, over 180 journalists have been killed in the region—almost three times the number killed during the entirety of World War II.

To claim that Israel does not target journalists is to ignore reality. Either Israel is deliberately silencing the press, or its attacks are so indiscriminate that civilians and journalists alike are annihilated without distinction intentionally.

UN experts condemned Israel’s targeting of journalists in the occupied West, calling the acts “crude attempts to block independent reporting on potential war crimes.” In Gaza, the targeting of journalists constitutes a grave escalation, erasing the last independent voices able to report firsthand.

Israel must also be sanctioned for its crimes. A full arms embargo and a two-way trade embargo must be enforced until Israel ceases its illegal occupation, blockade and human rights violations in the region; this will also add pressure for a ceasefire. Recognising the State of Palestine and supporting the prosecution of war crimes is essential.

I look forward to your commitment to upholding international law through these actions.

Your constituent,

[Your Name]

[Your Address]