The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called on the United Nations to investigate targeting of media by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip and to take action against Israel where it has violated international law and a Security Council resolution on protection of media in conflict zones.

The IFJ has called on all of its affiliates, regional organisations and other journalists' groups in the region, including the Federation of Arab Journalists, to support the call which is part of a number of solidarity actions launched by the IFJ today.

The IFJ is calling for the establishment of an international Gaza Journalists' Defence Committee and has launched an appeal for humanitarian assistance to support the families of media victims. The IFJ says that five  media staff have died as a result of Isreali action in Gaza in recent days.

In a letter to all IFJ affiliates, the IFJ announced that a Gaza Safety Fund account has been opened for donations towards further humanitarian aid to the victims of violence in Gaza.

In a letter to Ban-Ki Moon, United Nations Secretary General, IFJ leaders , President Jim Boumelha and General Secretary Aidan White, say: "Israel is violating international law, ignoring its own Supreme Court and showing contempt for the United Nations by defying its obligations under Resolution 1738 to protect journalists in conflict zones."

The IFJ claims that Israeli military have made targeted attacks on media on two specific occasions - on December 28 when Israeli aircraft struck the television station Al Aqsa and on January 9 when there was a double air strike on the Al-Johara Tower in Gaza City, a building was clearly marked as housing media staff and where up 20 news organisations were based.

The IFJ demands that the blockade on foreign media entering Gaza must end and any talks to guarantee a ceasefire and a peaceful solution to the present conflict must include guarantees on the rights of media to move freely and to end all forms of intimidation of journalists. Initially, if humanitarian corridors are to be created, these must also allow the free movement of journalists, according to IFJ.

Please click here for IFJ letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon

Please click here for IFJ Appeal for Gaza Journalists Defence Committee

For more information contact the IFJ at +32 2 235 2207

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 123 countries worldwide