Protest planned for Bonn Square, Oxford – Wednesday 27 August, 1pm
Journalists in Oxford are set to join a nationwide protest coordinated by the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), demanding an end to the killing of journalists in Gaza. The protest will take place at Bonn Square today, as part of demonstrations across the UK.
Oxford Protest Aligned with National Outcry
Members of the Oxford and District NUJ branch will hold a banner reading “Stop killing journalists in Gaza” while displaying posters listing the names of 219 journalists killed, a figure verified by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). Protesters will also call for international media access to Gaza to ensure independent reporting.
Anna Wagstaff, Secretary of the Oxford & District NUJ, said:
“We are horrified at the scale of killings of our colleagues in Gaza, who are the only reporters able to broadcast to the world the details of the devastation, death, and famine Gazans are facing. Journalists are protected under the Geneva Convention; killing journalists is a war crime.”
We have seen 219 reporters, photographers and camera crews, both men and women, killed so far. The people of Gaza have a right to have their stories told and their voices heard, yet the only reporters broadcasting news from Gaza are being relentlessly killed.
Deadly Toll and Global Context
The IFJ reports that since the war began in October 2023, at least 233 journalists and media workers have been killed, giving this profession a mortality rate over 10%, emphasizing how uniquely perilous reporting in Gaza has become. Many of these cases are now the subject of a formal complaint filed with the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In May 2024, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan announced intent to seek arrest warrants against Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the deaths of media workers.
Press freedom groups including Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists have repeatedly called for independent investigations.
Media Access Under Fire
The IFJ also notes that international journalists are barred from entering Gaza, making Palestinian journalists the only witnesses capable of reporting first hand. The NUJ’s protest aims to spotlight how such restrictions exacerbate the risks local journalists face on the frontlines.
In parallel with advocacy, the IFJ has supported frontline media workers through its International Safety Fund, distributing life-saving supplies, including medical equipment, fuel, tents, and battery packs, to support Gaza’s media community.
“On August 11, five journalists were killed by the Israeli military in a targeted strike on their tent next to the Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. On August 24, a further five journalists were killed as they gathered at Nasser hospital in Khan Younes to report on a strike that had happened minutes before.
“We are demanding that Israel be held accountable for these deaths. Failure to do so could fatally undermine international law and commitments to press freedom. We will be gathering in Bonn Square on Wednesday to tell Israel: This relentless killing of journalists has to stop!”
Anna Wagstaff, Secretary of the Oxford & District NUJ
Wider Debate on Press Freedom
The Israeli military has consistently denied deliberately targeting journalists, saying that it acts against militant groups and that Hamas operates from civilian areas, complicating the battlefield. However, international organisations argue that the scale of deaths raises serious questions under international humanitarian law.
The NUJ is calling for stronger international pressure to protect journalists working in conflict zones and for Israel to be held accountable under international law if violations are confirmed.
Event Details
- When: Wednesday 27 August, 1.00pm
- Where: Bonn Square, Oxford
- Organised by: Oxford & District NUJ branch, part of the nationwide NUJ protest
The Oxford protest is one of several across the country, part of the NUJ’s campaign to highlight risks faced by journalists covering conflicts and to defend press freedom worldwide.
