Palestinian Journalist Mariam Abu Dagga Posthumously Honored for Courage Amid Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza

The International Press Institute (IPI) honored seven journalists as World Press Freedom Heroes at its 75th-anniversary event, including Palestinian journalist Mariam Abu Dagga, who was killed documenting Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. Dagga's death, part of a larger pattern of violence against journalists amid the ongoing conflict that has claimed over 62,800 Palestinian lives, highlights the dangers reporters face in war zones. Palestinian journalist Plestia Alaqad, who chronicled the 2023 Israeli invasion of Gaza through a diary now published as a book, emphasizes the rare opportunity to share Palestinian voices directly. Meanwhile, Jewish-American journalist Jasper Nathaniel exposed a violent settler attack in the West Bank, criticizing U.S. media for underreporting the incident despite viral footage and condemnation from the United Nations. These accounts collectively underscore the perilous conditions for journalists covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the critical need for their stories to reach global audiences.