Al Jazeera cameraman Fadi al-Wahidi, who was hit by an Israeli sniper in the Gaza Strip this month, is in a coma and Israel has not yet allowed him to leave the enclave for urgent medical treatment.
The Palestinian journalist was shot in the neck while reporting on the Israeli ground invasion of the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, while wearing protective equipment that clearly identified him as a member of the press.
Despite calls from three press freedom organizations, Israeli authorities have not allowed al-Wahidi and fellow Al Jazeera cameraman Ali al-Attar to leave Gaza to receive “life-saving medical treatment.”
Al Jazeera Arabic reported on Thursday that al-Wahidi's condition had deteriorated since he was taken to hospital on October 9.
Doctors at the Public Relief Hospital in Gaza City said they were unable to treat him and prevent complete paralysis, adding that he suffers from damaged arteries, veins and shattered bones.
The hospital had repeatedly requested that al-Wahidi be transferred abroad, as resources there were insufficient to treat his injuries.
The attack on al-Wahidi came days after al-Attar was shot while covering the conditions of displaced Palestinians in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza.
A scan showed shrapnel lodged in his skull and bleeding in his brain, but there has been no treatment available in Gaza for this injury.
No evacuation
Israel has not responded to multiple requests from international organizations to evacuate journalists who were seriously injured by its forces.
The US-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), which promotes press freedom and defends the rights of journalists, has demanded that Israeli authorities ensure the safe transfer of al-Wahidi and al-Attar outside Gaza.
“Both evacuation processes have been stalled because the necessary authorizations are pending,” he said along with other media watchdog groups in a letter to the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories of Israel (COGAT).
“We hold the Israeli government responsible for any deterioration in its conditions caused by this prolonged delay.”
The letter states that COGAT did not respond to its multiple calls for the journalists' evacuation.
Additionally, CPJ has sought assistance from the governments of the United States, France, and Germany, as well as the United Nations.
“Despite these efforts, the possibility of evacuating these journalists is currently blocked due to the lack of Israeli authorization for their safe passage,” he said.
“The lives of these two journalists are at imminent risk and quick action is necessary to prevent further tragedies.”
The letter said that “their safe passage to Jordan or Qatar must be guaranteed, and they must be allowed access to life-saving medical treatment without further delay.”
More than 175 media workers have been killed during Israel's war in Gaza.
Attacking journalists is a violation of international laws that protect the press and aid workers in war zones, Al Jazeera said in a statement this month.
“Al Jazeera urgently calls on the international community to take immediate measures to guarantee the safety of journalists and civilians in Gaza and hold the Israeli Occupation Forces accountable for their repeated crimes against journalists,” the statement added.
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