IFJ condemns killing of Palestinian journalist by Israeli troops

BRUSSELS, April 9 (KUNA) -- The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemned Monday the killing of Palestinian photojournalist Yasir Murtaja and the wounding of at least 7 more journalists in Gaza by the Israeli army.
The IFJ in a statement also demanded the Israeli army conduct an open and transparent investigation into the attacks.
Murtaja, 31, who was working for the Gaza-based news agency Ain Media, was killed on 6 April in the east of Strip from wounds sustained by an Israeli sniper while covering the Great March of Return" rally.
"We join our affiliate and Palestinian colleagues who have been unlawfully targeted for simply doing their job," said IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger. "The IFJ strongly condemns this inadmissible targeting of journalists and press freedom in Gaza by the Israeli forces and we demand that the Israeli army conduct an open and transparent investigation," he said .
"Failing to do so will make the Israeli government complicit in the targeted killing of journalists while doing their job, which is considered a war crime under international laws," he added.
The Brussels-based IFJ represents around 600,000 journalists in 146 countries worldwide. (end) nk.msa