Slain for telling the truth

by New Worker correspondent

The London Freelance Branch of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) called an emergency vigil at Downing Street last week, following Israel's targeted assassination of five Al Jazeera journalists and a freelance photographer in Gaza.
Names of all the journalists that have been killed in Gaza were read out, which was followed by a prayer in the Muslim tradition. People then silently marched to the Palestine House cultural centre in Holborn, where a candlelit vigil was held in honour of all the journalists that have been slain in their attempt to tell Gaza's story.
At the vigil Laura Davison, the NUJ general secretary, said “we owe a collective debt to those reporting from Gaza in the most horrendous of circumstances. They are representing our profession – that commitment to reporting what is happening on the ground whatever the cost. And they have paid the price. They are the eyes and ears of the world on the ground”.
According to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) at least 195 journalists and media workers – including 181 Palestinians – have been killed since 7th October 2023, making this the deadliest war for reporters and photo-journalists in recent history.  
The NUJ has deplored the killings and supported calls for an investigation into the actions of the Israeli government. The union is also encouraging chapels and branches to hold solidarity vigils at branches and workplaces over the coming days to protest against the killing of colleagues in Gaza. 

Free Gaza Medics!

by New Worker correspondent

Pro-Palestinian activists interrupted their seasonal celebrations to join an emergency vigil in London's West End on 28th December against the Israeli military's systematic destruction of hospitals in Gaza. The vigil in Piccadilly Circus was organised by the Health Workers 4 Palestine campaign that was co-founded by a group of doctors in October 2023 to combat the censorship they experienced, when standing up for the rights of Palestinian health workers and the rights of Palestinians to healthcare.
On 27th December Israeli troops raided the Kamal Adwan Hospital, the last major health facility in Northern Gaza, removed all the patients and staff, and set fire to it. Hussam Abu Safia, the director of the hospital, was arrested and is still in Israeli detention.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) issued a statement saying it was is appalled by the raid. "The systematic dismantling of the health system and a siege for over 80 days on North Gaza puts the lives of the 75,000 Palestinians remaining in the area at risk". The statement added that "some people were reportedly stripped and forced to walk toward southern Gaza". The Gaza Ministry of Health says that now all three public hospitals in Northern Gaza, the Kamal Adwan, Beit Hanoon and Indonesian hospitals, have been "taken out of service by Israel’s offensive". On 4th January WHO Director-General  chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the agency had received “no updates on the safety and wellbeing” of Hussam Abu Safia.