Press release

UNESCO Director-General deplores the death of journalist Ahmad Bdeir in Palestine

Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, has deplored the death of journalist Ahmad Bdeir, in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, Palestine, on 10 January 2024.
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I deplore the death of Ahmad Bdeir and call for a full and transparent investigation into the circumstances of his death. Without journalists, there can be no reliable information on the situation on the ground. I reiterate my call to ensure their protection in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolution 2222 unanimously adopted in 2015.

UNESCO Director-General
Audrey AzoulayUNESCO Director-General

Ahmad Bdeir was a Palestinian journalist for the local magazine Hadaf News. He was killed in an airstrike while reporting from the Shuhada al-Aqsa hospital. 

UNESCO has reported the deaths of at least 24 journalists and media workers in the line of work in Palestine since October 2023, which does not include deaths in circumstances unrelated to their profession.

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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