France helping Gaza reporters to get out
Palestinian journalists have sacrificed their lives covering the Hamas-Israel war.
Arun Sankar, AFP
Daily TribunePalestinian journalists have sacrificed their lives covering the Hamas-Israel war.
Arun Sankar, AFP
The French government is working to evacuate Palestinian reporters of Agence France-Presse trapped in Gaza Strip, according to its foreign ministry.
"Since October, we have been working to allow French citizens on the ground to leave Gaza, as well as their dependents," Christophe Lemoine, deputy spokesperson for Paris' foreign ministry, said Thursday.
"We are keeping up our efforts regarding AFP employees," Lemoine said, adding that it's "a complex operation."
France has "concerns about the heavy toll paid by journalists in the context of the conflict between Israel and Hamas," Lemoine also said.
The statements were in response to the call of a group of journalists, including AFP staff, for French President Emmanuel Macron to help evacutate Palestinian journalists working with French media.
The appeal was published in the op-ed page of the French daily Le Monde.
"Since the start of the war, foreign nationals have been able to leave Gaza, but the Rafah crossing is closed to Palestinian journalists working for French media on the ground," the op-ed read.
While the Gaza-Egypt border crossing has intermittently opened in recent weeks, only people whose names were on approved lists have been allowed out.
"Concerning Palestinian workers at French firms, aid groups and public figures flagged up to us, we are still looking for solutions with our partners in the region to get them to safety outside the Gaza Strip," Lemoine said.
France is concerned about the heavy toll paid by journalists covering the conflict between Israel and Hamas, according to Lemoine.
"Civilians must be protected, and that is especially the case for journalists. They have to be able to freely and completely safely do their work," he said.
At least 63 journalists and media workers — 56 Palestinians, four Israelis and three Lebanese — have died since 7 October, according to the United States-based Committee to Protect Journalists.
Around 40 journalists working with AFP and their dependents are still waiting to get out of Gaza.