RSF and 16 NGOs press Germany, Italy and Czechia to back suspending EU-Israel Association Agreement over abuses of journalists

In a joint letter on the eve of an informal meeting of EU heads of state and government in Copenhagen, the NGOs urge Germany, Italyand Czechiato adopt a position of at least partial support for the Association Agreement's suspension, as proposedby the European Commission on 17 September. The support of these three countries is essential to obtain the qualified majority needed for the suspension's adoption.

The Israeli government is currently waging the deadliest campaign in history to silence journalists covering the war in Gaza. At least 210 journalists have been killed by the Israeli militaryin the Gaza Strip since 7 October, including at least 56 who were targeted for their reporting. Israeli strikes often target media infrastructure in Gaza, and international media are denied independent access to the Palestinian enclave by the Netanyahu government.

In its review of the Association Agreement with Israel in late June, the European External Action Service concluded that the Netanyahu government was in violation of Article 2 of the agreement - under which respect for human rights and democratic principles is an essential element of the bilateral relationship - and that this therefore allowed the EU to unilaterally suspend the agreement.

RSF reiterates that killing journalists is a war crime under international law. After previously filing a total of four complaintswith the International Criminal Court (ICC), RSF filed a fifth one on 1 October.

RSF and the 16 other organisations that have signed the letter also call on European leaders to demand:

• Foreign media access to the Gaza Strip,
• Protection for journalists in Gaza, including the delivery of food, drinking water and medical supplies to all journalists in Gaza,
• The prosecution of those responsible for crimes committed against journalists.

RSF and more than 180 international organisations already appealedto the EU on 8 July to suspend its Association Agreement with Israel.

At the initiative of RSF and Avaaz, more than 270 media outlets from around the world launched a campaignon 1 September to demand strong action by the international community to protect Palestinian journalists and enable coverage of the war in Gaza.

With France's support, RSF secured a high-level meetingon the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on 24 September at which representatives of more than 20 countries discussed the situation of journalists in Gaza.