ABC coverage of journalist Roshdi Sarraj’s death in Gaza sparks ‘proper’ vigil outside Melbourne office
The ABC has been called out for its “atrocious” tribute to journalist Roshdi Sarraj, who was killed in Gaza after working for the broadcaster.
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Pro-Palestinian supporters have called out the ABC for not “properly” paying tribute to journalist Roshdi Sarraj, who was killed in Gaza after working with the broadcaster.
Mr Sarraj, 31, was a freelance Palestinian journalist and filmmaker who had filed video footage for ABC’s 7.30 program before he was killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza on October 22.
7.30 did acknowledge Mr Sarraj’s death at the end of its program on Monday night, with host Sarah Ferguson noting “his passing” and sending “condolences” to Mr Sarraj’s family.
Is this how @abcnews commemorates a journalist who worked for them? No photo, no mention of the perpetrator, no context or full story of his documented murder alongside 23 Palestinian journalists targeted by Israel for telling the truth of its crimes that constitute genocide. pic.twitter.com/RFtodtV1mm
— Tasnim 🌿🇵🇸⚘ (@ForPalestine__) October 30, 2023
But the acknowledgment was criticised by some online, who called it “atrocious” and “disgusting”.
“If I were an ABC journo I would be shocked and disgusted by this pathetic report of Roshdi Sarraj’s death,” one supporter wrote.
“He did not ‘pass’. He was targeted for execution by the IDF, as are ANY journalists interested in fair coverage of Israel crimes in the Gaza Ghetto.”
If I were an ABC journo I would be shocked and disgusted by this pathetic report of Roshdi Sarraj's death.
— Comisari (@Comisari2) October 30, 2023
He did not 'pass'. He was targeted for execution by the IDF, as are ANY journalists interested in fair coverage of Israel crimes in the Gaza Ghetto.
Former Teal staffer Sally Rugg said the “deliberate language” used by the program was “extraordinary”.
“Was killed in Gaza†is extraordinary, deliberate language for Australia’s flagship current affairs program to use.
— Sally Rugg (@sallyrugg) October 30, 2023
Killed HOW? Killed by WHO? https://t.co/I8H0Q0aG5J
The outrage culminated in a silent vigil outside the ABC Melbourne office at Southbank on Tuesday, organised by Free Palestine Melbourne, to “properly honour” Mr Sarraj.
About 150 supporters held and stuck posters of the journalists outside the ABC building during the demonstration, demanding greater acknowledgment of his death, the Herald Sun reported.
Amin Abbas, the chair of Olive Kids, an organisation which supports Palestinian children, said in a statement he was disappointed by the ABC’s lack of coverage of Mr Sarraj’s death.
“I was expecting the ABC to prioritise paying tribute to such an amazing professional and colleague who’s paid his own life to keep telling us the truth, including us here in Australia,” Mr Abbas said.
“There has never been a time more critical for us to know what is really happening in Gaza and remembering those that we lost … (it) is the least that we can do to help us protect the brave ones that are still trying to do so.”
The statement continued, saying the ABC had a duty “not to pass over his death in silence”.
The demonstrators called for the ABC to pay tribute to Mr Sarraj and other journalists killed since the start of the conflict in Israel and Gaza, to call for the protection of journalists reporting from the war zone, and “demand that Israel allow unconditional access for international journalists on the ground”.
“All parties in this war, including the Israeli government, must be held to account and media access is crucial to ensuring that happens,” the statement concluded.
Members of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance joined the vigil to acknowledge Mr Sarraj and the 31 other journalists and media workers reportedly killed in the Gaza conflict since October 7.
The Media Entertainment Arts Alliance (MEAA) ABC House Committee released a statement on Tuesday which was read out at the vigil.
“The ABC House Committee extends their deep condolences to the family of freelance journalist and filmmaker Roshdi Sarraj, who was killed in Gaza on October 22 during an air strike.
“Mr Sarraj, who was working for the ABC shortly before his death, is among at least 23 journalists killed in the conflict since October 7. The ABC House Committee calls on all sides to respect the role of journalists and to avoid civilian casualties. Journalists working for the ABC in these dangerous situations deserve the ABC’s support.”
Statement from the #MEAAmedia ABC House Committee. pic.twitter.com/vFX1ebQS3a
— MEAA (@withMEAA) October 31, 2023
An ABC spokesperson later told the Herald Sun: “On October the 22nd filmmaker Roshdi Sarraj was killed in Gaza. Earlier this month, Roshdi filmed material for 7.30, and we take this opportunity to acknowledge his passing and send our condolences to his family.”
At the time of his death, Mr Sarraj was killed in an air strike on the Tel al-Hawa neighbourhood in Gaza City that killed at least 32 Palestinians, according to Al Jazeera.
Mr Sarraj had moved with his wife Shorouq and one-year-old daughter Dania to the family home in after his apartment was damaged in the first week of the war.
His father told Al Jazeera he tried to shield his wife and daughter when the air raid struck. The 10 family members in the home survived, Mr Sarraj died in hospital after being hit by shrapnel, the outlet reports.
Originally published as ABC coverage of journalist Roshdi Sarraj’s death in Gaza sparks ‘proper’ vigil outside Melbourne office
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