During the opening session of the congress, IFJ President Dominique Pradalié and IFJ leaders from all over the world delivered solidarity messages along with Palestinian journalists and vowed to continue their support.
The congress elected the PJS's Administrative Council, which is composed of 63 members. Nineteen of them are women journalists and 45 are new members. A number of motions were discussed and voted on during the session, where the approved resolutions included:
- To set up an Advisory Council for the PJS. This will provide support and advice to PJS leadership on a wide range of issues.
- To establish PJS branches across Palestine and the diaspora to provide support and protection to Palestinian journalists.
- To continue its pursuit of justice (including at the International Court of Justice (ICC)) in connection with Palestinian journalists murdered by the Israeli army.
- To strengthen the PJS’s efforts to end all attacks on journalists perpetrated by Palestinian actors.
- For the elected leadership, to make all possible efforts to improve the social rights and salaries of all journalists working for state media, private sector and regional and international media.
On 3 June, the PJS Administrative Council held its first meeting and elected journalist Walid Nawaaf as its President. It also elected the 21 members of the PJS's General Secretariat, where Naser Abu Baker has been elected as the President of the union, Omar Nazzal and Tahseen al-Astal as Vice Presidents, and Madeha al-Aa’raj as General Secretary.
The IFJ and all its affiliates worldwide will support the PJS in representing Palestinian journalists.
IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger: “The IFJ congratulates the PJS for successfully holding its congress and conveys its best wishes for the newly elected leadership. We will continue to stand by our affiliate, the PJS, and all Palestinian journalists and media workers to defend their rights to safety, free movement and decent work as we have done for over three decades.”