It has been said that the first casualty of war is truth, a sentiment often attributed to Aeschylus, the father of Greek tragedy. The death toll in the Israel-Gaza war now exceeds 20,000, and among the dead are at least 68 journalists and media workers, according the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Norm Stockwell, publisher of the Progressive Magazine, joined Thursday 8 O’Clock Buzz host Tony Castañeda to discuss how the targeting of journalists is affecting the dissemination of news about the war. The International Rules of War specify that all parties engaged in conflict must protect journalists and uphold their rights in the event of their capture. In addition, the rules establish that intentionally directing attacks against civilians, and thus journalists who are not engaged in the hostilities, constitutes a war crime. As casualties increase and threats to journalists and their families continue, the public will increasingly be left vulnerable to disinformation and unable to separate truth from fiction, a tragedy by any measure.

Photo courtesy of hosnysalah on Pixabay.

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