Joint statement by six press professional organizations: “Israel must end its genocide against journalists!”

On Thursday, August 14, 2025, press, publishing, and writers’ professional organizations held a joint press conference at the Burhan Felek Conference Hall of the Turkish Journalists’ Association (TGC) to condemn the killing of six journalists in Israel’s latest attack on Gaza and to call on the international community to take urgent action.

The statement—organized by the Trade Union of Journalists, Publishing House and Printing House Workers (DİSK Basın-İş), the Turkish Journalists’ Association (TGC), the Turkish Journalists’ Union (TGS), PEN Writers Association, the Turkish Publishers Association (TÜRKYAYBİR), and the Turkish Writers’ Union (TYS)—highlighted that Israel’s attacks on journalists have so far killed 238, injured 480, and destroyed the offices of 112 media organizations. The organizations urged the international community to take immediate steps to end what they described as a “genocide against journalists.”

Speakers at the press conference included DİSK Basın-İş Supervisory Board Member Alparslan Aydın, TGC President Vahap Munyar, TGS Secretary General Banu Tuna, PEN Turkey President Zeynep Oral, TÜRKYAYBİR Board Member Erkan Akpınar, and TYS Secretary General Tahir Silkan.

“THE GENOCIDE AIMS NOT ONLY TO ERADICATE CIVILIANS, BUT ALSO JOURNALISTS!”

We are here today to denounce an atrocity that stands as a stain on humanity’s conscience and to expose the massacres committed by Zionist Israel against journalists.

In Gaza, the genocide pursued by Israel through its Zionist policies has claimed the lives of at least 238 journalists since October 7, 2023. In its most recent attack, six more of our colleagues have fallen victim to this barbarism. These are not just numbers; each represents a person who pursued truth, defended the public’s right to know, and used the pen and the camera as tools of resistance against oppression. Israel’s heinous attacks target not only journalists, but also humanity’s conscience, the truth, and freedom itself.

Zionist Israel is conducting ethnic cleansing in Gaza. This genocide is designed not only to kill civilians, but also to deliberately silence the journalists who reveal the truth. This systematic slaughter of media workers is one of the most contemptible expressions of the Zionist regime’s attempts to conceal its crimes. According to the Geneva Conventions, journalists in conflict zones must be protected as civilians. Yet Israel continues to flout international law, human rights, and moral principles by targeting, killing, injuring, detaining, and silencing journalists. This is not merely a war crime—it is a crime against humanity.

“WE CONDEMN ISRAEL’S MASSACRES!”

As DİSK Basın-İş, we condemn in the strongest possible terms the vile massacres committed by Zionist Israel. The attacks on journalists once again reveal the bloody face of Zionism. This regime fears the emergence of truth because every report, every photograph, and every written line exposes its crimes. They believe they can silence the press by killing, imprisoning, and threatening journalists. They are wrong. Journalists cannot be silenced, and the truth cannot be erased.

Zionist propaganda deliberately distorts the principle of impartiality in our profession and dares to question the journalistic legitimacy of our murdered colleagues. But impartiality is rooted in our stance in the face of clear truth. Just as we stand for press freedom against censorship and for humane working conditions against exploitation, we stand firmly against genocide, occupation, starvation, and ethnic cleansing. This is not only our right—it is our professional duty.

“SILENCE IS COMPLICITY!”

We call on the international community—especially institutions and governments that claim to defend press freedom: Silence in the face of Zionist Israel’s massacres of journalists is complicity in these crimes. The United Nations, the International Criminal Court, and other relevant bodies must hold this genocide accountable. The blood of journalists is on the hands of the Zionist regime, and these crimes must not go unpunished. Silence is the greatest ally of tyranny and oppression.

In the struggle to defend journalists’ rights, we have always stood with the oppressed and against the oppressor. Our colleagues in Gaza are risking their lives to show the world the Zionist brutality. Their pens, cameras, and voices are the dignity of humanity. We are here to embrace their struggle, amplify their voices, and strengthen our solidarity against this barbarism.

“YOU CANNOT SILENCE THE TRUTH BY KILLING JOURNALISTS!”

We honor the memory of the 238 journalists who lost their lives and offer our condolences to their families and colleagues. We stand with all media workers who have been injured, imprisoned, or threatened. Once again, we declare to Zionist Israel: You cannot silence the truth by killing journalists! The world sees, knows, and condemns your genocide, occupation policies, and crimes against humanity in Gaza!

We thank you for your solidarity and reaffirm our determination in this struggle.