As world leaders celebrate the newly announced Israel–Gaza Peace Deal, Kenyan journalist Bill Otieno has issued a bold open letter to U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, denouncing what he calls a “dangerous silence” surrounding the journalists killed during the Gaza war.
In his strongly worded statement, Otieno welcomed the peace accord but cautioned that “peace built on silence and selective memory is no peace at all.” He condemned the international community’s failure to acknowledge dozens of journalists who lost their lives while covering the conflict — many of whom were visibly marked as press workers.
“Journalists are not collateral damage. They are observers protected under international law,” Otieno said.
“In Gaza, they became deliberate targets — silenced for exposing what many wished hidden. True peace cannot ignore their sacrifice.”
In his letter, Otieno urged Trump and Netanyahu to take three key actions:
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Publicly recognize and honor the journalists killed in Gaza.
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Commit to protecting media workers in all future conflicts, in line with international humanitarian law.
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Address the culture of impunity that has allowed violence against the press to go unpunished.
He stressed that the credibility of the peace deal depends not only on diplomatic signatures but on moral courage and justice.
“Peace without accountability is a hollow declaration,” Otieno warned.
“If this agreement ignores the blood of journalists, it risks becoming just another deal written on paper — not in justice.”
Otieno’s remarks come amid growing alarm from Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), and the United Nations Human Rights Council, all of which have condemned the unprecedented number of journalists killed in Gaza since the war began.
According to international watchdogs, Gaza has seen one of the deadliest conflicts for media professionals in modern history, with calls mounting for independent investigations and accountability for violations of international law.
Concluding his open letter, Otieno delivered a passionate reminder of the indispensable role of journalists in times of war and peace.
“The world must remember that free press is not a luxury — it is the frontline of truth,” he said.
“Without it, peace is a lie.”
Otieno’s statement adds to a growing chorus of voices demanding that justice for journalists become a pillar of post-war reconstruction and reconciliation in Gaza.
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