Gaza: Israel Kills Ola Atallah and Dua al-Cebbur in Airstrikes on Gaza City and Khan Younis

CFWIJ and Women Press Freedom devastated as we record two more killings of Palestinian journalists. Twelve women journalists, among 65 total, have been killed since October 7

Location: Palestine, Gaza
Date: December 9, 2023

Recent Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City and Khan Younis killed Palestinian journalist Ola Atallah in Gaza City and journalist Dua al-Cebbur in Khan Younis. The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom expresses profound sadness over their killing. We are deeply disturbed by the distressing number of journalists who have lost their lives during this war. We reiterate our call for the international community to push for accountability as Israeli weapons continue to take journalists' lives. To date, ten Palestinian women journalists have tragically been killed, bringing the total number of women journalists killed since the conflict escalated on October 7th to twelve. In light of these grave violations, we urgently call upon the United Nations (UN) to conduct comprehensive investigations into the killings of journalists. The UN Security Council should consider implementing sanctions or embargoes against any parties found to be in violation of international laws. Furthermore, it is imperative that the International Criminal Court (ICC) and other international tribunals thoroughly investigate and prosecute those responsible for these abhorrent crimes.

Ola Atallah, a Palestinian journalist, was killed by an Israeli airstrike on a relative's house in the Ed-Derc district, east of Gaza City. Local sources report that several members of Atallah's family also perished in the same attack. Atallah, who had previously served as a correspondent for Anadolu Agency (AA), had worked for various local and international media organizations throughout her career.

Journalist Dua al-Cebbur, along with her husband and children, were killed by an Israeli airstrike on Khan Younis, as reported by the Palestinian Union of Journalists. Cebbur was working with the local Media Eye Network.

Since the Israeli-Palestine conflict escalated on October 7, the number of journalists killed in Israel's attacks has tragically reached 65. Among these casualties are twelve women journalists, with ten of them being Palestinian, as recorded by CFWIJ. 

In Gaza, Israeli shelling also killed Alaa Taher Al Hassanat, Ayat Khadoura, Amal Zohd, Salam Mema, Salma Mukhaimer, and Duaa Sharaf. Israeli shelling killed Lebanese reporter Al-Mayadeen reporter Farah Omar. Plestia Alaqad, a young reporter from Gaza, was forced to flee.  

The ongoing violence has placed journalists in a perilous situation, as they find themselves caught in the midst of the war. The brunt of the work amid the violent conflict lies solely on the shoulders of Palestinian journalists who are forced to risk their lives to share the stories from the frontlines.

This conflict has become the deadliest for press workers in three decades. These distressing deaths underscore the grave dangers faced by journalists in their pursuit of reporting on conflicts, emphasizing the critical importance of safeguarding press freedom and ensuring the safety of media professionals.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom expresses deep sorrow over the killing of journalists Ola Atallah and Dua al-Cebbur. The loss of these journalists is a devastating blow to press freedom. It is imperative that the international community prioritizes dialogue and de-escalation to ensure journalists’ safety in conflict zones. The world cannot stand idly by while journalists continue to pay the ultimate price for their commitment to reporting the truth.

We reiterate the importance of the United Nations carrying out comprehensive inquiries into the killing of journalists. The UN Security Council must contemplate implementing sanctions or embargoes against entities found breaching international laws. Moreover, the International Criminal Court and other global tribunals should probe and bring people or groups accountable for these atrocious deeds to justice.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

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