DIG Festival for Investigative Journalism in Italy awards Press House and the Journalists in Gaza the “Watchdog” Award

On Saturday, September 21, 2024, the "DIG AWARDS" International Festival for Investigative Journalism awarded Press House - Palestine and journalists in the Gaza Strip the "Watchdog" Award for this year.

“Gaza is the most dangerous place in the world for journalists,” said Philippe Di Salvo, a member of the DIG festival’s board of directors. In the past 12 months, the Israeli occupation army has injured 190 journalists, arrested 51 and killed 165, according to the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate.

He added: "The head of the Committee to Protect Journalists stated on January 30 that Israel's war in Gaza is the most deadliest for journalists than any previous war."

He continued: "The reasons for this anger are clear, and without the words, memories, images and voices of these journalists, the world would not have seen the extent of the destruction and violence that has befallen Gaza. Thanks to the heroism and courage of these journalists, we can see the extent of Israel's destruction of the occupied Palestinian territories."

He said that the festival administration decided to award the “Watchdog” award to Palestinian journalists in the Gaza Strip as well as the Press House Foundation, an independent, non-profit Palestinian media organization founded in May 2013, which was deliberately targeted several times during the war.

He explained that the award is a sign of solidarity with the courage of Palestinian journalists, a solidarity that would be meaningless without calling for an immediate ceasefire and demanding that our countries immediately stop sending weapons to Israel.

DIG is an Italian non-profit association founded in 2015 to support journalism, especially investigative journalism, and organizes an annual festival to compete for the most important investigative works.

In turn, Hekmat Youssef, a member of the Board of Directors of the Press House, said during his speech at the “DIG” Festival that journalism has never been merely a transmission of news or a narration of facts, but rather it is the pulse of society, the voice of the oppressed, and a mirror of reality with all its contradictions and hopes. The accelerating global events, especially the ongoing Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, have proven the importance of a free press in preserving human rights and promoting the values ​​of transparency and accountability.

He stressed that investigative journalism is one of the pillars of free media, as it plays a pivotal role in exposing corruption, shedding light on sensitive issues, and achieving transparency and accountability.

Yousef added: “In Palestine, despite the challenges imposed by the Israeli occupation and the internal economic and political difficulties, the absence of investigative journalism is an urgent issue that requires reflection and in-depth research, especially in light of the prevention of foreign media and international journalists from entering the Gaza Strip during the past months, in order to investigate hundreds of important files and issues.”

He pointed out that the Press House Foundation continued to work despite the loss of its colleague Bilal Jad Allah, the Foundation’s General Manager, who was killed by the Israeli occupation forces on November 19, as well as the loss of its colleagues Ahmed Fatima and Mohammed Al-Jajah.

Youssef said: “The deep belief of the Press House Foundation in the necessity of supporting journalists, both male and female, and creating a free, credible and objective media reality was a strong motivation for the Foundation’s staff to continue working and challenging the circumstances and difficulties despite all the serious risks surrounding the media work environment in the Gaza Strip, especially since we are exposed to being killed at any moment by Israel.”

He added: "Investigative journalism has been among the strategic objectives of the Press House Foundation during the past and future years, due to our great belief in its importance in achieving transparency and accountability and creating a somewhat good political, social and economic reality despite all the challenges and risks facing this type of journalism in Palestine."

Youssef said that Palestinian journalists in Gaza are facing a very harsh reality in light of the Israeli war that has been ongoing since last October.

He said: "What journalists in Gaza are going through is not just professional challenges, but a daily struggle to survive in the face of constant danger, and an ongoing conflict between performing their duty and conveying the truth and the dangers that surround them from every direction. The Palestinian journalist in Gaza bears the responsibility of conveying the voice of his besieged and afflicted people to the outside world, despite the inhumane conditions in which they live."

“Under the suffocating siege and continuous bombardment, journalists find themselves on the battlefield, moving between the rubble and destruction to document crimes and violations. However, the biggest threat is not only bullets or shelling, but also restrictions on freedom of expression and direct targeting of journalists with the aim of silencing them. Many journalists have lost their lives while carrying out their mission, many have been arrested and threatened, while others suffer from a lack of capabilities and scarcity of technical resources,” he continued.

Yousef stressed the Press House's full support for Palestinian journalists, and solidarity with all those who stand in the face of oppression and injustice in order to convey the truth, as journalism is not a crime, and demanding freedom and justice is a right that cannot be relinquished.

At the end of his speech, Youssef expressed his deep gratitude to everyone who contributed to organizing this festival and to everyone who continues to struggle for free and fair media.

The Watchdog Award was received on behalf of the Palestinian Press and Journalists House Foundation in Gaza by Al Jazeera English journalist Safwat Al Kahlout.

Al-Kahlout said in a speech during the DIG Festival: “Journalists in Gaza are angry with their international counterparts, after they failed to form a lobby to pressure their governments to provide protection for their Palestinian colleagues.”

He added: "When the Charlie Hebdo incident occurred in 2015 in France, all world leaders and journalists around the world, including Palestinian journalists, expressed solidarity with them. But unfortunately, Gaza journalists are being slaughtered daily without them doing anything."

Al-Kahlout stressed that Palestinian journalists are still waiting for the formation of a lobby to pressure governments to help, support and protect Palestinian journalists.