Press release

UNESCO Director-General deplores death of media worker Yazan Emad Al-Zwaidi in Palestine

Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, has deplored the death of media worker Yazan Emad Al-Zwaidi in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza, Palestine, on 14 January 2024.
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I deplore the death of Yazan Emad Al-Zwaidi and urgently call for a thorough and transparent investigation into its circumstances. Without journalists, there can be no reliable information on the situation on the ground. I reiterate my urgent call to uphold UN Security Council Resolution 2222 on the protection of journalists, media professionals and associated personnel as civilians in conflict situations.

UNESCO Director-General
Audrey AzoulayUNESCO Director-General

Yazan Emad Al-Zwaidi, a camera operator for Al Ghad TV network, was reportedly killed following an airstrike while reporting from Beit Hanoun, in the north Gaza Strip. 

Since October 2023, UNESCO has documented the deaths of at least 25 journalists and media workers in the line of duty in Palestine. This count does not include deaths in circumstances unrelated to their professional activities.

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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