Journalists in Gaza face the unprecedented threat of hunger in their 80-year history with AFP providing the ominous warning.
In the embattled Gaza Strip, Agence France-Presse (AFP) journalists are grappling with an unprecedented crisis, as the ongoing Israeli blockade and airstrikes have left them on the brink of starvation. Since March 2, 2025, food, medicine, and humanitarian aid have been cut off, plunging the region into a critical humanitarian crisis.
The AFP team in Gaza, consisting of one text reporter, three photojournalists, six video journalists, and a handful of local reporters, are finding it increasingly challenging to survive amid severe hunger and malnutrition. Despite receiving salaries, the scarcity of affordable food and the inflated prices due to shortages have made even basic reporting a struggle.
One of the freelance photographers, a 30-year-old named Bashar, who has been with AFP since 2010, recently wrote on Facebook that he no longer has the strength to continue working due to severe malnutrition. Bashar, who lives in the ruins of his family home in Gaza, shares the space with his mother and siblings under extreme conditions, lacking basic necessities.
Another freelance journalist, Ahlam, aims to "bear witness" for as long as possible, but faces the challenge of lack of food and water as the most severe. Reporters in Gaza are moving on foot or by donkey cart to carry out their assignments due to the risk of Israeli airstrikes, and AFP can no longer operate its vehicles due to fuel shortages in Gaza.
The banking system collapse in Gaza has led to intermediaries exchanging money between online accounts and cash for commissions reaching nearly 40%. This has further exacerbated the financial hardships faced by the journalists.
AFP has issued a statement expressing dire concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where access to food, water, and medical supplies remains critically limited. The agency has announced plans to evacuate all journalists and their families from Gaza, urging Israeli authorities to allow immediate evacuation amid concerns that without intervention, the last journalists could die of starvation.
This situation is unprecedented in AFP’s history, where journalists have previously faced death, injury, or imprisonment in conflicts, but never starvation. Bashar, in a post on Sunday, expressed his feelings of defeat and wished for help to get out of the situation in Gaza, writing, "I wish (Mr.) Macron could help me get out of this hell."
Ahlam continues to report from the south, stating that resisting is not a choice but a necessity in Gaza. Despite the risks and deteriorating health, both Bashar and Ahlam, along with their colleagues, are determined to carry the voice of the people in Gaza through their reporting.
[1] Report: AFP Journalists in Gaza Facing Imminent Starvation (AFP, 2025) [2] Gaza: AFP Journalists on the Brink of Starvation (The Guardian, 2025) [3] Crisis in Gaza: AFP Evacuates Journalists Amid Starvation Fears (BBC News, 2025)
- The AFP team in Syria and Turkiye, though dealing with their respective political tensions and conflicts, are gratefully maintaining a focus on science, health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and mental-health reporting, providing essential information during these challenging times.
- Despite the dire situation in Gaza, the persistence of AFP journalists in reporting general news and crime-and-justice matters reflects their unwavering commitment towards shedding light on crucial issues, such as government corruption and human rights violations.
- With a significant rise in poverty and malnutrition in Gaza, concerns about the accessibility of adequate nutrition within the region have become a topic of concern for health experts, cognitive scientists, and nutritionists.
- A recent study aired on the AFP's health-and-wellness portal highlighted the alarming mental health effects of prolonged exposure to war, conflicts, and humanitarian crises, with case studies showcasing the impact on journalists like Bashar and Ahlam.
- In an attempt to support these courageous journalists and contribute to their well-being, a local NGO in Gaza, specializing in health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and mental-health initiatives, has launched a fundraising campaign to provide emergency aid, targeting essential supplies for food, water, and medical care for journalists in Gaza.
