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Israel target Iranian national broadcaster – LIVE ON AIR

Israel attacked the headquarters of the Iranian national broadcaster, live on air, on Monday, 16 June.

Sahar Emami, the news anchor, was speaking live when the Israeli attack hit. Everyone watching could clearly see the explosion, followed by audible screams, while it was still live.

We then watched another journalist continue the broadcast from outside the building. He was visibly distressed, with his hands covered in blood. In the background, you could see the building burning.

The Geneva Convention

Article 79 of the Geneva Convention protects journalists in armed conflicts, meaning they cannot be targeted. Clearly, this does not apply to Israel.

As usual, Israel is taking their strategy from the same old playbook. Target whoever or whatever the hell they want and claim it was being used as some sort of military base. And, failing that, claim there were strategically important tunnels underneath.

According to The New York Times:

The Israeli military later said in a statement that its air force had struck the building to target a “communication center” that was being used by the Iranian military “under the guise of civilian activity.” The claim could not be independently verified.

Trying to silence journalists

Israel has a long history of murdering journalists. As of June 10, they had murdered 231 Palestinian journalists in Gaza. Additionally, they have assassinated 10 journalists in Lebanon, one in the West Bank, one in Syria, and now one in Iran, too.

Yet still, most of the West refuse to call it what it is – genocide. If Israel had nothing to hide, it wouldn’t be targeting journalists in broad daylight.

Israel’s targeting of journalists started long before October 7. Back in 2021, The Canary reported on Israel detaining over a dozen Palestinian journalists. This included an Al Jazeera correspondent in the West Bank

In 2020, the Palestinian Centre for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) said Israeli forces committed “408 violations of the media” in 2020 in the occupied territories.

Israel seems to have a real issue with following international law, and allowing a free press would all too obviously expose its war crimes:

Previously, Israeli forces have attempted to smear journalists as terrorists in order to pre-emptively justify their murders. Because, when the state that has bombed five different countries in less than two years shouts ‘terrorist’, the West takes it as truth.

Israel has never played by the rules, and they’re not about to start now. Whether it’s children, hospitals, journalists, or now live TV broadcasts – nothing is off limits to the genocidal terrorist state. And let’s face it, nothing is about to change unless Western media and politicians find a shred of moral decency and a backbone.

Feature image via ABC News/Youtube 

By HG