AJA issues statement on Hamas-Israeli fire-fight

Israel and Hamas, the militant group of Palestine, announced the ceasefire on Nov. 22th after 8 days of fighting which left more than 150 victims. However, the cause of tension is still alive. Several journalists were killed by targeted strikes during the fire-fight. The Asia Journalist Association (AJA) issues statement with our deepest condolences on their sublime deaths.

1. Violence is no respecter of things or people.

Israel targeted the Gaza media centre in its airstrikes, inflicting damage to facilities in the 14-storey building and human casualties.  AJA deplores this assault on the offices of Gazan and international journalists.

2. Tit for tat is part of the on-going conflict between the Hamas militants and the Israeli military. Rocket attacks on southern Israel by Hamas had been answered by missiles fired by Israeli fighter jets.

AJA asks the implacable foes to ponder again how such violence would help resolve their historical conflicts. Observers noted that Hamas acted to pressure Israel to lift the blockage on Gazans, so they could find jobs for the 40 percent unemployed and improve livelihood.

Israel acted, it said, to deter Hamas’ firing rockets on its territory. Yet its killing of Hamas military commander Ahmad al-Jabari raised troubling questions about its policy of assassination of opponents.

3. Civilians caught in the cross-fire of the Hamas-Israeli fire-fight suffered as innocent victims, including deaths of young children.
AJA condemns the indiscriminate use of fire-power that maimed and killed citizens caught up in the violence.

4. The flare-ups between the Palestinians and Israelis threaten to spiral into another war in the Middle East.

AJA salutes the US and Egyptian peace-makers who succeeded in brokering a truce in the fighting, albeit a tenuous one.
We urge the concerned parties involved to work out a mechanism that would allow Hamas and Israel to talk things over the table instead of over the battlefield.

5. Issues of war — and peace — should not be decided by political and military leaders alone. The voice of the people, the peace-lovers, must be heard loud and clear.

AJA calls on journalists and other members of the media fraternity to enhance the climate for peace. Through peace journalism and forums we can lay the groundwork for Palestinians and Israelis, especially the younger generations, to love peace and not war.

23 November 2012

Asia Journalist Association

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