“Genocide cannot be whitewashed. Journalism means truth, not neutrality.” — PPFA
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“MANILA — The Philippines-Palestine Friendship Association (PPFA) expresses deep concern over the recent Israel-sponsored trip of sixteen Filipino journalists.
“Their visit comes at a time when the world witnesses an unprecedented genocide and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza — tens of thousands killed, entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble, and basic survival cut off under siege.
“This trip raises difficult but necessary questions. What stories will be told, and whose voices will be amplified? At a time when Gazaâs people are enduring mass displacement, starvation, and relentless bombardment, we urge our colleagues in the media to consider how their reporting can reflect the whole truth.
“This junket cannot be seen in isolation. It is part of broader acts of intellectual and cultural complicity, where institutions normalize ties with Israel while turning a blind eye to its systematic brutality. To engage as if everything were âbusiness as usualâ with an apartheid state carrying out the most documented genocide of our time is not neutrality — it is complicity, both moral and intellectual.
“The cost of telling the truth has never been higher. Over 270 journalists have been killed by the Israel Occupation Forces in Gaza since 2023 — making this the deadliest war for the press since World War II and the Vietnam War. Among them were Al Jazeera correspondents who continued reporting under fire until their deaths, even as media offices were deliberately bombed. This systematic silencing is not only a human tragedy, but a direct assault on press freedom and the publicâs right to know.
“The Philippine media landscape makes this responsibility especially clear. Journalists here who dare to expose corruption, human rights abuses, violations of international humanitarian law, and bombings in the countryside often face harassment, red-tagging, trumped-up charges, or even death. Yet fearless Filipino journalists persist — proving how essential an independent press is to democracy and accountability.
“That same courage is also needed to confront our own governmentâs complicity. The Marcos, Jr. administration has deepened military and trade ties with Israel, even as its forces wage genocide in Gaza. The Philippines has signed billions worth of arms deals with Israeli firms — acquiring SPYDER missile systems, Hermes 900 drones, and Fast Attack Interdiction Craft-Missile (FAIC-M) boats from Elbit Systems and Israel Shipyards. These same weapons, tested on Palestinians under occupation, are now deployed in the Philippinesâ counterinsurgency program — bombing our countrysides and communities. By becoming one of Israelâs top arms buyers in Asia, the Philippine government sustains both Israelâs war machine abroad and repression at home.
“To expand military and trade cooperation while a genocide unfolds is not neutrality — it is participation. And journalists, whose calling is to expose injustice, cannot afford to ignore this reality.
“PPFA challenges Filipino journalists to broaden their coverage: While it is easy to access Israelâs cities and officials, the far less reported reality is in Gaza — where families grieve, health workers struggle to save lives, and entire communities fight to survive under siege. These are the voices most silenced, and they must be heard.
“Filipino journalists have stood firm against dictatorship, censorship, and repression. Today, we ask them to bring that same commitment to the global stage. In Gaza, the truth is under attack — and it needs messengers brave enough to carry it.” (â)
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Source: Philippines-Palestine Friendship Association (PPFA)
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