Press release

UNESCO Director-General condemns killings of Hamza Al Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuraya in Palestine

Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, has condemned the killings of Hamza Al Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuraya in the southern city of Khan Yunis in Palestine, on 7 January 2024.
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I condemn the killings of Hamza Al Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuraya and call for a full and transparent investigation into the circumstances of their deaths. I reiterate my call to respect UN Security Council Resolution 2222/2015 on the protection of journalists, media professionals and associated personnel as civilians in situations of conflict.

UNESCO Director-General
Audrey AzoulayUNESCO Director-General

Hamza al Dahdouh was a Palestinian journalist and camera operator for Al-Jazeera. Mustafa Thuraya was a Palestinian freelance videographer who had worked with Al-Jazeera, Agence France Presse (AFP) and other media. They were reportedly killed in an airstrike on their car in southern Gaza, while travelling on assignment. 

UNESCO promotes the safety of journalists through global awareness-raising, capacity building and by coordinating the implementation of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity. 

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