Brussels / PNN / 

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, the Founding Committee of the Association of Independent Palestinian Media, and the Global Fund for Public Interest Media (GFPI) launched a support fund for independent Palestinian media during a conference held in Brussels, the capital of the European Union.

The conference opened with keynote speeches followed by workshops and discussions on the state of Palestinian media amid Israel’s ongoing targeting of Palestinian journalists, as well as the wider consequences for press freedom and the sustainability of media work under war conditions.

Boulanger: Supporting media and protecting journalists through the fund

Anthony Boulanger, president of the IFJ, opened the proceedings, thanking participants on behalf of the federation and expressing appreciation to the International Press Centre in Brussels for hosting the event in solidarity with Palestinian journalism.

Boulanger said the meeting was convened to reflect on and address complex questions about “tormented Palestine,” noting that the IFJ has documented the deaths of 220 journalists while reporting on a conflict that has claimed some 65,000 lives. He urged state representatives present to take action to help halt the massacre.

He stressed that the IFJ continues to prioritise the protection of journalists and has worked to establish a fund to support Palestinian media in partnership with the Global Fund for Public Interest Media, underscoring the importance of safeguarding journalism and journalists.

Minister Assaf: Israel will not silence Palestinian media through killings

Ahmad Assaf, minister and head of the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation, thanked the IFJ for initiating the conference and expressed gratitude to European and Arab political figures and institutions in attendance. He described the launch of the fund as a tangible form of support for the Palestinian media sector.

Speaking on behalf of the State of Palestine, Assaf announced that work is underway to finalise legislation regulating the fund and pledged to fast-track its passage, voicing confidence that it would become an effective mechanism to enable Palestinian journalists to continue reporting the truth amid the ongoing war that has left 250,000 Palestinians dead or wounded and displaced 2.2 million people after the destruction of Gaza.

Assaf denounced the killing of 230 journalists since the start of Israel’s assault as a war crime, saying the toll far exceeds the number of journalists killed during World War II and more than in the past century combined. He said Israeli forces have deliberately targeted journalists along with their families, citing the killing of Al Jazeera correspondent Shireen Abu Akleh as part of a long-standing policy.

“Why do these criminals escape accountability?” Assaf asked, calling for the prosecution of Israeli war criminals in general and those who murder journalists in particular. He voiced confidence in the IFJ’s support and that of “all free people around the world.”

He said Palestinian journalists are paying the price for the success of their narrative in challenging Israel’s version of events, stressing that despite heavy sacrifices, their reporting has prevailed globally. “The occupation will not succeed in silencing the truth. Journalists and media outlets will continue their work,” he said.

European Parliament: We warned Israel over crimes against the press

Munir Satour, chair of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights, said the parliament has already warned Israel against continuing its crimes, demanding an immediate halt to violations against journalists.

Satour: Being a journalist in Palestine means living war every day

Satour stressed that the support offered by the European Parliament was largely symbolic, meant to reaffirm solidarity with free journalism. He said being a journalist in Palestine means “living the war daily, in a precarious situation where you must deliver the message while protecting yourself and your family — something that exists nowhere else in the world.” He urged that the crimes unfolding in the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem must not be forgotten.

The parliament, he added, fully supports the rights of journalists to protection and pledged to back initiatives safeguarding Palestinian reporters.

Journalists Syndicate: The fund will sustain Palestinian media and become a global model

Nasser Abu Bakr, head of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate and vice president of the IFJ, thanked the federation for convening the conference and saluted Minister Assaf for pledging to establish the fund. He also expressed appreciation to Mounir Satour, Anthony Bellanger of the IFJ, and Nishan Lalwani of the Global Fund for Public Interest Media for their support.

Abu Bakr said their past collaboration succeeded “by all measures” and helped provide support to 22 media outlets — six of them in Gaza — funding salaries for 100 journalists. He noted the presence of representatives from Palestinian outlets at the conference as a reflection of the hardships endured by the Palestinian media sector.

He said Israel’s ongoing targeting of the press continues “with the world’s silence,” reporting that the death toll of journalists had risen to 248, averaging 11 killed each month — “a martyr every three days since the start of the assault.” The syndicate, he added, has documented 1,641 violations, proof that Israeli attacks against journalists are a deliberate government policy.

Abu Bakr said the massacre against the press has forced Palestinian journalists to work in makeshift solidarity tents after their offices were destroyed, warning that Palestinian media is collapsing in the West Bank and Jerusalem. He called for the urgent launch of the support fund with transparent, professional mechanisms aligned with international standards, saying the day’s discussions would advance that goal.

International pledges to finance the fund

Nishan Lalwani, director of the Global Fund for Public Interest Media, said it was an honour to represent the organisation in Brussels, offering condolences to Palestinian journalists and the people of Palestine.

He said he recognised the deep sense of abandonment felt by Palestinians amid what he called “the most brutal massacre of the media,” stressing that his fund remained committed to supporting Palestinian journalists through the syndicate and IFJ.

Lalwani highlighted the previous initiative that channelled funding to 22 outlets, including six in Gaza, allowing 100 journalists to continue their work with professionalism. He praised the quality of Palestinian journalism, pledging to seek broader cooperation with other organisations to expand support.

He also urged further studies on the state of Palestinian media and the establishment of legal frameworks for the fund to help attract more donors to sustain independent and public-interest journalism.

UNESCO: Fund must embody transparency and independence

Hala Tannous, head of communications at UNESCO, confirmed the organisation’s support for the launch of the fund, expressing hope it would become a model of transparency, trust and independence for Palestinian media.

“Independent media is not an option but a foundation for civilised societies, and it must be preserved,” she said, saluting Palestinian journalists and affirming UNESCO’s backing for initiatives that support them through training, development and protection.

Several Palestinian media leaders also spoke at the conference, including Mohammed Faraj of Ma’an TV, Riyad Khamis of Radio Al-Rabaa, Moammar Orabi of Watan Network, Shorouq Al-Asaad, Dr. Walid Nassar of Ajyal Radio, and Munjed Jado of PNN. They outlined the multifaceted challenges facing Palestinian journalists and outlets under war conditions.

Donors and media representatives also discussed mechanisms for the fund’s operations, programmes and future activities.