"Lack of safety and basic protection for media workers in Gaza – and in particular for journalists and photographers working freelance – has been identified as the most crucial and imminent issue in the weeks following the military offensive by Israel against Hamas in the Gaza Strip on 27 December 2008 and the ceasefire called on 17 January 2009. The lack of basic equipment, as well as proper training in safety issues, has prevented journalists from moving freely and thus prevented them from performing their task at the expense of the circulation of essential information. Summing up, freelance journalist Omeyma Abu Khair states: “We need organisations that really takes care of journalists – of the individual journalist and photographer. We have no such organisations here. We need help to learn, how to work under pressure. How to operate during war. How to protect ourselves when we are out reporting. We need psychological support to teach us how to work in long term trauma situations. How to deal with our own traumas. And how to take care of our families when we are working 24 hours a day.” (Conclusion)
Introduction, 4
Context, 5
Background, 7
The media situation – challenges and threats, 8
Conclusion, 12