South African Journalist Calls Israel’s Media Crackdown a ‘Deliberate Massacre’

In a world where press freedom is under constant threat, South African journalist Deshnee Subramany’s fight for Palestinian press freedom resonates deeply. This struggle is not just a distant issue; it is personal, driven by the devastating realities faced by journalists in Gaza.

Earlier this year, Subramany found herself overwhelmed by the grim reports of journalists killed in Gaza. “I was angry,” she recalls. “By January 2024, more than 170 journalists had been killed. Today the number is well over 270. That’s not just a tragedy, it’s a massacre. And what shocked me most was that no editorial body in South Africa was saying anything.”

This silence ignited a flame of action within her. Late one night, fueled by her frustration, she drafted a statement condemning Israel’s attacks and calling for solidarity with Palestinian journalists. This led to the launch of Journalists Against Apartheid (JAA), an initiative that has organized national vigils across South Africa, including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, and Rhodes University.

Subramany emphasizes, “We wanted to be clear: South African journalists will not stay silent. If our editorial institutions won’t act, we will.” She critiques the Press Council of South Africa for its inaction, stating, “You can see in its About page, right at the bottom, it talks about its interventions in big tech. But its vision is for journalism beyond South Africa too. I think it speaks to how current institutions are not serving us anymore – like the UN’s processes.”

Lessons from South Africa’s Apartheid Past

Subramany’s activism is deeply intertwined with her country’s history. Born in 1987, she witnessed the final years of apartheid and the fragile transition to democracy. This background has shaped her sensitivity to injustice and censorship.

One significant story that haunts her is the reporting on the Sharpeville massacre, where police killed demonstrators during an anti-pass protest in the 1960s. “Official records listed 69 victims, but survivors told me the real death toll was far higher,” she recalls. “That experience taught me something crucial: in situations of repression and genocide, we never truly know how many lives are lost. Records are manipulated, voices erased. The same is true today in Gaza. The world may never know the real number of journalists or civilians who have been killed.”

The parallels between apartheid South Africa and occupied Palestine are striking. Both systems exhibit militarized control, racial segregation, and institutional silencing of dissent. “Even if Israel stopped bombing today, Palestinians would still face decades of rebuilding. Look at South Africa: thirty years after democracy, we are still recovering,” she asserts.

Media Silence and Western Bias

While the brutality of Israeli airstrikes fuels her anger, the complacency of the media establishment infuriates Subramany even more. “South Africa has journalism schools, an editors’ forum, a press council — yet none of them spoke out when journalists were being massacred in Gaza,” she criticizes. “That vacuum made me realize we needed an independent voice.”

Reflecting on the historical roots of the South African Press Council, she points out how it was formed in response to struggles for accountability following the Sharpeville massacre.

Additionally, she critiques the Western-dominated media landscape, describing it as “middle-class, Eurocentric, and unwilling to confront its biases.” A recent incident involving South Africa’s public broadcaster, which suspended a freelance anchor for questioning an anti-apartheid figure about Israel’s actions, highlights the pressures journalists face. “It wasn’t journalism, it was harassment,” Subramany remarks. “But the fact that such incidents happen shows the pressure journalists face when speaking honestly about Palestine.”

The Danger of Branding Journalists

One of the most disturbing tactics employed by Israel is the routine branding of Palestinian journalists as “terrorists.” “You can’t just label people terrorists and then kill them without evidence,” she insists. “Killing journalists is a war crime. How do you justify 272 war crimes? You can’t.”

This strategy aims to create a media blackout. “We are civilians. We are the media. By killing us and denying access, Israel ensures nobody can report the truth. That is the point,” Subramany adds.

International Institutions and Their Failures

When discussing organizations like the UN and the Committee to Protect Journalists, Subramany expresses skepticism. “Institutions can only do so much. But the UN has failed. If we are witnessing a genocide, why is there still a veto in the Security Council? Why are we allowing powerful states to block accountability?”

She notes the irony that South Africa, once a victim of apartheid, is now leading the charge at the International Court of Justice against Israel’s crimes. “It shows how far we’ve come, but also how weak global institutions remain. Unless the veto is abolished, justice will always be selective,” she adds.

Understanding the “Media Massacre”

Subramany and her colleagues have coined the term “media massacre” to describe the situation in Gaza. “This is not collateral damage,” she stresses. “It is a targeted campaign to wipe out a profession. Israel knows exactly what it’s doing. And we want them to know that we know.”

The implications of this situation extend beyond Palestine. “If the killing of journalists is normalized, then no reporter anywhere is safe. Western journalists who stay silent should understand—this can happen to you too,” warns Subramany.

She believes that every act of solidarity matters: “Every candle lit, every slogan shouted, every article published—it all tells Palestinian journalists: you are not alone.”

Grassroots Solidarity in South Africa

Despite the institutional silence, grassroots solidarity in South Africa has emerged powerfully. JAA has organized vigils, screenings, and protests alongside the Palestinian Solidarity Commission. “That was a big moment for us,” Subramany recalls, reflecting on a rally in a predominantly pro-Israel neighborhood. “To stand in that space, surrounded by our people, and say we refuse to be intimidated.”

At a vigil in Johannesburg’s Mary Fitzgerald Square, journalists who were initially there to cover the event ended up joining the movement. “Even those who couldn’t protest in person were writing about it, broadcasting it. They made sure the story was told,” she states.

These acts of collective defiance are invaluable to Subramany. “Every candle lit, every slogan shouted, every article published—it all tells Palestinian journalists: you are not alone.”

Challenges Facing South African Journalists

While South African journalists face fewer risks for supporting Palestine compared to their counterparts in Europe or the U.S., challenges remain. “Our country’s stance is clear. We took Israel to the ICJ. There’s a long history of solidarity,” she explains. However, she acknowledges that South Africa’s media industry is in crisis, with shrinking newsrooms and limited support for investigative journalism.

“The industry is losing people. That weakens our ability to tell stories that matter,” she warns. The duty of journalists everywhere, according to Subramany, is to tell the truth. “We are not allowed to lie. Every word matters. If you call something by the wrong name, you distort reality. So call it what it is: genocide, massacre, apartheid. Name the perpetrators. That’s our job.”

She recognizes that such honesty may come at a cost. “If your newsroom doesn’t believe in the truth, you will face backlash. But then you have to ask: is that really journalism?”

A Message of Solidarity

In concluding the conversation, Subramany reflects on the Palestinian journalists in Gaza. “We don’t know what they can see of our protests, whether our statements reach them,” she admits. “But if they do, I want them to know this: they will never stand alone. South African journalists are with them, always.”

Her passionate words echo the spirit of global solidarity that once sustained South Africa’s liberation struggle. Today, as Israel wages war on media, this solidarity becomes more urgent than ever.

Journalists Against Apartheid (JAA) is currently organized by a dedicated team of journalists across the country, including Joséphine Kloeckner, Raeesa Pather, Shakirah Thebus, Samina Anwary, Aziz Younis, and Deshnee Subramany.