U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in response to a message from Agence France-Presse concerning the fate of journalists in Gaza, stated that he supports the "unequivocal" protection of journalists in conflict zones. In the message received by AFP, he emphasized that the United States "will continue to affirm to Israel and to all countries the necessity of protecting journalists." He added that Washington "unequivocally advocates for the protection of journalists in armed conflicts."
AFP and other international media outlets sent a joint letter to Blinken at the end of October, requesting his assistance in protecting journalists, many of whom have died, and others injured since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas. According to figures from the Committee to Protect Journalists as of December 4, 63 journalists and media workers were killed, including 56 Palestinians, 4 Israelis, and 3 Lebanese, while 11 journalists were injured, 3 were missing, and 19 were detained.
Media outlets also asked Blinken for assistance in evacuating their personnel from Gaza. In response, Blinken stated that the evacuation of American and foreign citizens from Gaza remains "our priority, and we are working with Egypt, the United Nations, and Israel to facilitate their safe exit from Gaza." Additionally, hundreds of French lawmakers, mostly from the left, sent a letter to Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne on Monday urging her to "make every effort" to allow for the "evacuation of AFP journalists stranded in the Gaza Strip."
