Aggression in Gaza ‘horrendous’, attack on media ‘unthinkable’ – Group of Veteran Journalists

WE demand the atrocities perpetrated by the Israeli military to stop immediately in Gaza. The intensifying assault on Gaza is beyond the pale of humanity. It is an act of aggression and a pompous show of strength on the part of the Israeli military on an innocent populace. 
 
The bombardment on homes, offices and infrastructures has caused unimaginable miseries to the Palestinian state. The attacks have killed at least 122 people including 31 children and injured at least 900 others (Updated: Israeli air and artillery strikes on Gaza since Monday have killed 145 people including 41 children, and wounded another 1,100, health officials say). The civilian casualties are horrendous. The anger reverberates beyond Gaza, even into the state of Israel and the world over. It is simply an act of aggression that must be condemned by nations and civil societies.
 
We believe that the government of Israel is amassing its army for an incursion into Gaza. The move will further inflame the situation. The rising tension amidst the current Covid-19 pandemic is totally unnecessary.
 
We urge Israeli journalists to act as the conscience of the nation. What is happening is not about the so-called Israel’s right to exist. They must also speak up on the rights of the Palestinians to coexist and survive. The cruelties inflicted upon them the last seven decades are beyond the realm of human rights and human dignity. 
 
We condemn the attack on offices of media organisations in Gaza. Israeli air strikes have destroyed Al-Jalas Tower that housed the offices of several media organisations, including the Associated Press and Al Jazeera. It is unthinkable that in this era, an army could target offices of media practitioners.
 
All these actions were planned, starting from the eviction of a number of Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, the right-wing mob attacks against Palestinians, the attacks against worshippers at Al Aqsa mosque and the strikes against targets in Palestine.
 
We are appalled by the fact that some segments of the Western media have typecast the Palestinians as militants, radicals and terrorists, the terms unsparingly used to justify the atrocities perpetrated by the Israeli military.
 
We are saddened by the fact that the United Nations General Assembly has yet to come out with a resolution to address the issue. We are appalled by the administration of US President Joe Biden for blocking the assembly on making any statement in this regard. This is not about religion or ideology, it is about human lives and those who have been oppressed and victimised for far too long 
 
We are also demanding the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) come out with a strong statement on the matter. The Muslim world is looking for guidance and direction from the OIC. The silence, especially among the powerful members of the OIC, is, to say the least, palpable. – The Vibes, May 16, 2021
 
The above statement by veteran journalists is signed by Tan Sri Johan Jaaffar, Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, Datuk Hushamuddin Yaakub, Datuk Kadir Jasin, Datuk Seri Azman Ujang, Datuk Chamil Wariya, Datuk Yong Soo Heong, Datuk Zakaria Wahab and Datuk Ahirudin Attan