United Nations, United States — A UN expert has accused Western nations and Israel of violating freedom of speech in the aftermath of the Gaza war. Irene Khan, the special rapporteur on freedom of expression, highlighted crackdowns on protests and freedom of the press in her report “Global threats to freedom of expression arising from the conflict in Gaza.”
Khan pointed out repressed protests on US university campuses and bans on pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Germany and France. She also condemned the targeted assassinations of journalists in Gaza and the West Bank, calling it a war crime.
Amid ongoing tensions, Israel’s actions, including the killing of journalists, destruction of press facilities, and denial of international media access, are seen as attempts to silence critical journalism and hinder the documentation of possible international crimes.
The conflict emanated from a deadly attack by Hamas on Israel in October 2023, leading to a series of violent events resulting in casualties on both sides. Despite the effort to bring peace, the situation remains fragile with ongoing repercussions.