Press release

UNESCO Director-General deplores death of photographer Mohamed Fayez Abu Matar in Palestine

Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, has deplored the death of photographer Mohamed Fayez Abu Matar in Palestine on 11 October 2023.
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I deplore the death of Mohamed Fayez Abu Matar. Journalists and media workers play a critical role in informing citizens in times of conflict and must be protected under international law, particularly UN Security Council Resolution 2222/2015 on the protection of journalists, media professionals and associated personnel as civilians in situations of conflict. I call for an independent investigation into this death.

UNESCO Director-General
Audrey AzoulayUNESCO Director-General

Mohamed Fayez Abu Matar, who worked as a freelance photographer for several news organizations, was killed on 11 October during an airstrike in Rafah city in the southern Gaza Strip, while covering the on-going conflict.

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

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