(NEW YORK)— Following Israel’s killing of Palestinian journalists Hossam Shabat and Mohammed Mansour, PEN America issued the following statement:
“Journalists play a crucial role in reporting from conflict zones and Palestinian journalists must be able to do so without fear of being targeted and killed,” said Liesl Gerntholtz, managing director of PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Center at PEN America. “Hossam Shabat, Mohammed Mansour, and the hundreds of other journalists killed and injured in Israeli military attacks since October 2023 risked their lives to tell the world the truth about what is happening in Gaza. Their deaths are a tragedy for their families and community and a great loss in the fight against censorship when it comes to the war in Gaza.”
PEN America unequivocally condemns the Israeli government’s use of lethal force against Palestinian journalists, and calls for an independent and impartial investigation into these killings.
About PEN America
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. Learn more at pen.org.