On behalf of the winners of the 2025 World Press Photo Contest
To Governments, International Organizations, Media Institutions, and Civil Society
We, the undersigned winners of the 2025 World Press Photo Contest, denounce the deliberate targeting, killing, and starvation of our fellow journalists in Gaza.
As of 25 August 2025, more than 196 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists — the highest toll ever recorded in a single conflict. Many of them were killed while clearly identified as press, some alongside their families in their homes. Those who survive face constant bombing, starvation, lack of clean water, and medical care, and a complete blockade on the entry of foreign media.
This is not collateral damage. These are deliberate tactics to silence the truth. Starvation and targeted killings of journalists constitute grave breaches of international humanitarian law.
Without immediate and protected humanitarian aid access, journalists in Gaza will face either death by airstrike or death by hunger. Without them, the world loses its witnesses reporting on the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding.
We call for:
- Immediate Humanitarian Access: Guaranteed and protected delivery of food, water, and medical supplies to all journalists in Gaza.
- End to Targeting: Cessation of all attacks against journalists and media workers, in compliance with international law.
- International Media Access: Lift the ban on foreign journalists entering Gaza and let global journalists operate freely in Gaza.
- Accountability: Independent investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the killing and starvation of journalists.
- Long-Term Protection: Establishment of international mechanisms to protect journalists reporting from conflict zones under siege.
Journalism is not a crime. Reporting is not terrorism. Killing journalists is an attack on truth itself.
We refuse to stand by while our colleagues are starved, bombed, and silenced.
We urge the international community to act now.
Signed
- Aliona Kardash
- Amanda M Perobelli
- Anselmo Cunha
- André Coelho
- Aubin Mukoni
- Carlos Barrera
- Chalinee Thirasupa
- Cinzia Canneri
- Clarens Siffroy
- Ebrahim Alipoor
- Federico Rios
- Florian Bachmeier
- Gabriela Oráa
- Jae C Hong
- Jerome Brouillet
- Kiana Hayeri
- Luis Tato
- Maria Abranches
- Marijn Fidder
- Mas Agung Wilis Yudha Baskoro
- Mikhail Tereshchenko
- Mosab Abushama
- Murat Şengül
- Musuk Nolte
- Noel Celis
- Prins de Vos
- Rafael Heygster
- Rebecca Kiger
- Samar Abu Elouf
- Samuel Nacar Puentes
- Santiago Mesa
- Suvra Kanti Das
- Tatsiana Chypsanava
- Temiloluwa Johnson
- Tommy Trenchard
- Ye Aung Thu
