Israel remains unresponsive to calls to evacuate Fadi al-Wahidi, Ali al-Attar and other injured journalists from Gaza.
Tel Aviv Tribune cameraman Fadi al-Wahidi, who was shot this month by an Israeli sniper in the Gaza Strip, is in a coma and has not yet been allowed by Israel to leave the enclave to receive emergency medical care.
Palestinian journalist shot in neck while covering Israeli ground invasion of Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, while wearing protective gear that clearly identified him as a member of the press.
Despite calls from three media freedom organizations, Israeli authorities have not allowed al-Wahidi and fellow Tel Aviv Tribune cameraman Ali al-Attar to leave Gaza for “life-saving medical treatment.” .
Tel Aviv Tribune Arabic reported on Thursday that al-Wahidi’s condition had deteriorated since he was taken to hospital on October 9.
Doctors at the Gaza City Public Assistance Hospital said they were unable to treat him and prevent complete paralysis, adding that he suffered damage to his arteries, veins and broken bones.
The hospital had repeatedly requested that al-Wahidi be transferred abroad because there were insufficient resources there to treat his injuries.
The attack on al-Wahidi came days after al-Attar was shot dead while covering the conditions of displaced Palestinians in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza.
A scan showed that a piece of shrapnel was lodged in his skull and bleeding into his brain, but no treatment is available in Gaza for the injury.
No evacuation
Israel has not responded to multiple requests from international organizations to evacuate journalists seriously injured by its forces.
The US-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), which promotes press freedom and defends the rights of journalists, called on Israeli authorities to ensure the safe transfer of al-Wahidi and ‘al-Attar outside Gaza.
“Both evacuation processes are at a standstill as the necessary permits are pending,” he and other media monitoring groups said in a letter to the Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT). ).
“We hold the Israeli government responsible for any deterioration in its conditions caused by this prolonged delay. »
The letter indicates that COGAT did not respond to its multiple calls for the evacuation of journalists.
Additionally, CPJ requested assistance from the governments of the United States, France and Germany, as well as the United Nations.
“Despite these efforts, the possibility of evacuating these journalists is currently blocked due to the lack of Israeli authorization for their safe passage,” the statement said.
“The lives of these two journalists are in imminent danger and rapid action is necessary to prevent further tragedy. »
The letter states that their “safe passage to Jordan or Qatar must be ensured, and they must have access to life-saving medical treatment without further delay.”
More than 175 media workers have been killed during Israel’s war on Gaza.
Targeting journalists violates international laws protecting the press and aid workers in war zones, Tel Aviv Tribune said in a statement this month.
“Tel Aviv Tribune urgently calls on the international community to take immediate action to ensure the safety of journalists and civilians in Gaza, and to hold Israeli occupying forces accountable for their repeated crimes against journalists,” the statement added. .