Doha: Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the French Embassy in Doha, hosted a special screening of the documentary Inside Gaza at the Museum of Islamic Art on Tuesday, drawing attention to the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the challenges faced by journalists covering the conflict. The event was attended by HE Minister of Education and Higher Education Lolwah Al Khater, alongside diplomats, officials, and members of the media.
According to Qatar News Agency, Ibrahim bin Sultan Al Hashmi, Director of the Media and Communication Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, opened the screening by describing the film as more than a documentary, calling it a visual and human testimony that brings audiences closer to the realities of life in Gaza. He emphasized that the documentary sheds light on the daily suffering of Palestinians and highlights the risks faced by journalists working in the territory. Al Hashmi also noted that attacks on media workers were part of a broader pattern, with more than 230 journalists having been killed during the conflict.
HE Ambassador of the State of Palestine to the State of Qatar, Fayez Majed Abu Al Rab, praised Qatar and the French Republic for organizing the event. He stated that the documentary offers a powerful account of both the hardships endured by Palestinians and the determination of journalists seeking to document events on the ground. He called for independent international investigations into Israeli occupation crimes against journalists and media workers, urging support for international judicial mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court, to ensure accountability. He also appealed for greater protection for journalists working in the occupied Palestinian territories and unrestricted access for international media organizations.
HE Ambassador of the French Republic to the State of Qatar, Arnaud Pescheux, expressed concern over growing attacks on press freedom worldwide, with journalists increasingly becoming targets while misinformation spreads and pressure on independent media intensifies. He paid tribute to reporters working in conflict zones and stressed that targeting journalists is contrary to international law. The French envoy called for investigations into crimes committed against media workers and for those responsible to be held accountable.
The screening formed part of ongoing efforts by Qatar and France to promote awareness of the importance of press freedom and the protection of journalists in conflict areas.