'Racism is a Threat to Humanity': Palestinian Envoy's Stern Warning
Palestinian Ambassador Abdullah M Abu Shawesh warns that racism and religious hatred threaten global stability and shared humanity.
In a powerful appeal for global stability, the Palestinian Ambassador to India, Abdullah M Abu Shawesh, has issued a stark warning, declaring that racism is a threat to humanity. Addressing the growing tide of religious intolerance and hatred, the envoy emphasized that the survival of peaceful human existence depends entirely on mutual respect and the embrace of pluralism.
A Call for Religious Harmony
Taking to the social media platform X, Ambassador Abu Shawesh highlighted that the acceptance of others and respect for all religious beliefs are not merely social courtesies but are the essential foundations for a world at peace. He argued that without these pillars, harmony and peaceful coexistence remain unattainable.
The diplomat did not mince words when criticizing those who fuel division. He asserted that individuals or groups who incite hatred, mock faiths, or insult religious traditions are doing more than just spreading intolerance; they are actively undermining the fundamental social structures that hold society together.
"Those who incite hatred against people of any religion or belief, mock their faith or insult their religious traditions are not merely spreading intolerance. They are threatening the very foundations of our shared humanity," the Ambassador stated.
Concluding his message with a blunt assessment of bigotry, Al-Haija warned that racists represent a danger to everyone, regardless of their background.
Highlighting the 'Mediacide' in Gaza
Parallel to his message on tolerance, the Embassy of Palestine in India brought attention to a harrowing United Nations report that details the plight of media workers in the Palestinian territories. The report, titled "Truth under the Rubble: Media in the Time of Genocide," was submitted to the UN General Assembly by Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The Systematic Destruction of Journalism
The report introduces the term "mediacide" to describe a systematic campaign to destroy journalism. This process allegedly involves the elimination of witnesses, the suppression of Palestinian narratives, and the use of information manipulation and propaganda to facilitate Israel's military actions.
The statistics provided in the report paint a grim picture of the risks faced by media professionals since October 2023:
- Casualties: Nearly 300 Palestinian journalists and media workers have been killed, with over 400 injured and more than 100 detained.
- Targeted Killings: Approximately 70 journalists were reportedly killed specifically in retaliation for their professional duties.
- Collateral Loss: Around 710 relatives of journalists have died, and more than 150 homes belonging to journalists have been destroyed.
- Direct Attacks: There have been 240 recorded incidents where Israeli live ammunition was directed at media crews.
Silencing the Witnesses
The UN report further alleges that Palestinian journalists have been unfairly portrayed as members of armed organizations without evidence, both before and after their deaths. Specific cases mentioned include journalists Hossam Shabat and Anas Al Sharif, who were publicly accused by the Israeli military prior to being killed.
Beyond physical violence, the document outlines a pattern of arbitrary detention, intimidation, threats, and sexual violence used against journalists and their families to obstruct the documentation of violations.
Infrastructure Collapse
The physical capacity to report from the region has been crippled. By October 2025, the report indicates that roughly 150 media offices and institutions in Gaza had been destroyed. Furthermore, a staggering 81 per cent of Gaza's information and communications infrastructure was completely destroyed, with an additional 12 per cent sustaining partial damage.