Bombing the media and eliminating journalists from the scene.
Hasan Lasjerdi, in an interview with the website of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations regarding the policies of the Zionist regime against the media in Gaza, stated: “The first strategy of the Zionist regime since the beginning of the war has been direct attacks on news centers.” This senior West Asia affairs analyst said: “The Israeli regime, by missile-striking the offices of international and local media, has tried from the very first days of the crisis to deter journalists from their professional mission. The martyrdom of journalists, the destruction of news offices, and even targeting places where journalists go for field reports are part of this policy.”
This media activist explains that “hospitals, camps, and shelters that have been gathering places for people and journalists have been intentionally placed on the target list of the Zionist regime, and the main goal of these actions is to prevent the voice of the people of Gaza from reaching global public opinion.” This expert believes that “the Israeli regime is well aware that if the images and narratives of journalists are reflected, the dimensions of its crimes will be revealed, and its legitimacy will be further questioned.”

Intentional attacks and their consequences for freedom of expression
The West Asia affairs analyst believes that “the Zionist regime not only uses military tools to censor facts but also deliberately exposes journalists and media to deadly attacks.” According to Lasjerdi, “the Israeli regime, by imposing extensive restrictions, effectively targets every citizen journalist, every news network, and anyone who can expose any aspect of this regime’s crimes.”
Referring to numerous cases, including the attack on Al Jazeera journalists’ tents, which led to the martyrdom of a number of them, he emphasizes that “these actions are part of the overall policy of the Israeli regime to prevent the mobilization of global public opinion.” The media activist adds: “In a situation where every image and report can become international evidence against Tel Aviv, the Zionist regime is acting with full force to silence these voices.”
In this analyst’s view, “such actions not only threaten freedom of expression at the regional level but also seriously endanger the global information process. Because if journalists cannot work freely, the right of the world’s people to be aware of the truth of wars and crimes will be lost.”

The inaction of international institutions in the face of the crimes of the Israeli regime
Hasan Lasjerdi believes that “the United Nations and human rights organizations lack the capacity and will necessary to react decisively against the Zionist regime. The primary reason is political pressures and the support of Western powers for this regime, which practically prevents any serious action.”
This West Asia affairs analyst points out that “even if cases related to the war crimes of the Israeli regime in Gaza are brought to the Security Council, they are usually vetoed by Western countries and removed from the agenda. For this reason, the existing mechanisms in the international system are designed in such a way that the Israeli regime remains immune from accountability for its actions.”
This analyst reminds that “on the battlefield, the speed of events and the urgency of addressing crimes require rapid and decisive responses; but the bureaucratic and lengthy process of international organizations causes many of these cases to be pursued too late or not at all.” He emphasizes that “the silence of these institutions has practically given the green light to the Israeli regime to continue suppressing the media without any concern.”

Politicization and inefficiency of international mechanisms
Continuing this interview, Hasan Lasjerdi delved deeper into the roots of the international institutions’ inability to counter the silencing of the media. He believes that “the most important reason is the excessive politicization of these institutions. According to him, the Zionist regime, backed by the support of global powers, particularly the United States and Europe, has been able to prevent the adoption or implementation of any effective action against itself.”
The West Asia affairs analyst believes that “this issue is not merely due to structural weakness; rather, there is a kind of unwritten collusion and alliance between the Israeli regime and its Western supporters to prevent the documentation of crimes.” He emphasizes that “the media play a vital role in this regard, as every image and report can become valid evidence in international courts. For this reason, the Israeli regime exerts maximum pressure on journalists.”
This expert also notes that “even some media present on the scene do not fully publish the facts due to the political considerations of their countries. According to him, the hidden and open relations of some governments with Tel Aviv have caused their affiliated media to refrain from accurately and completely reflecting the catastrophes.” At the end, the media activist, referring to the lack of a specific and binding protocol in the international system to counter attacks on journalists and news centers, says that “this legal vacuum has caused human rights institutions and international organizations to not move beyond a passive stance in critical situations. He emphasizes that if there were clear and binding mechanisms, countries and responsible institutions could not easily remain silent in the face of the crimes of the Zionist regime against journalists.”