War journalist recalls 'shared purpose' of reporting.

“It is to grieve people you may never have met personally yet feel bound to them through shared purpose and risk. It is to carry constant fear while continuing to speak and to document what others would prefer to deny or erase. It is to operate in environments where silence is encouraged through intimidation, and where visibility itself can become a form of danger.

“To survive as a journalist is to witness colleagues being killed repeatedly,” says AFP journalist Christina Assi.

The photojournalist came under attack by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon in October 2023 while reporting from the Israel-Lebanon border and had her lower leg amputated.

Here’s more from her statement for World Press Freedom Day 2026:

"From Shireen Abu Akleh to Amal Khalil, courage has come at a cost while they continued reporting despite clear threats. Their killings do not erase the truth they worked on to document, and no amount of justification can change what happened. After three years and more than 200 colleagues dead, the pattern of targeting journalists demands scrutiny and serious examination.

"Under international humanitarian law, journalists are recognized as civilians and are entitled to protection in situations of armed conflict. This principle is a legal obligation that Israel isn’t abiding by.

"What remains essential today is independent investigation and accountability for these war crimes. Without it, the message sent is one of impunity which only increases the risk for those who seek to hold power to account. When journalism loses that role, impunity becomes the norm.”

Watch the conversation with the AFP Journalist!