"Israel as abomination."

This is for Wael al-Dahdouh and the journalists of Gaza.

The unimaginable sacrifice. Wael al-Dahdouh before the body of his son, 27-year-old journalist Hamza al-Dahdouh. (Al Jazeera screen shot.)

11 JANUARY—From the beginning of its war on Gaza, Israel has intentionally targeted journalists. As of 8 January, 109 journalists have been killed. Of those, “at least 96 . . . were deliberately and specifically targeted by surgical Israeli strikes against them, at home or in the line of duty. . .” This is according to Anan Quzmar, a volunteer with the Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate, who spoke with Democracy Now! on 8 January. 

https://twitter.com/democracynow/status/1744355132999877054

The intentional targeting and killing of journalists is a flagrant, unequivocal violation of international law—a strategy employed only by the cruelest and most despotic of regimes to hide their crimes. It is only because of the work of journalists—those who have been killed and those who are still living—that the world knows what is truly happening to the people of Gaza. They have provided clear documentation of genocide, enabling South Africa to file a claim against Israel at the International Court of Justice on behalf of the citizens of Gaza.

Obviously, Israel would rather carry out its project of genocide and ethnic cleansing without it being documented. In what must be understood as an obscene form of retaliation, Israel has targeted the family members of journalists as well. Among the most egregious of these cases is that of Wael al-Dahdouh, Al Jazeera’s Gaza bureau chief.

The commission of genocide, the ethnic cleansing of Gaza, the targeted killing of  journalists and their families: All of this calls into the question the very legitimacy of Israel as a nation. It forces us to consider whether Israel has forfeited its right to exist.