Drik holds solidarity protest and exhibition against killings of Palestinian journalists

Since October 7 of last year, 191 Palestinian journalists and media workers have been killed as Israel targets those documenting the ongoing crisis in Gaza. To protest these targeted killings, Drik Picture Library hosted an exhibition titled *‘Gaza Holocaust: Killing the Truthtellers’* at Rabindra Sarobar in Dhanmondi this afternoon.

The event brought together members of the Drik family, friends, and visitors, all standing in solidarity with the Palestinian journalists who lost their lives while reporting on the atrocities in Gaza. The exhibition highlighted the sacrifice of these journalists and their vital role in exposing the truth.

Earlier this year, Drik organized a similar event on May 5 for World Press Freedom Day, which included a 7-day exhibition and panel discussion under the same title at DrikPath Bhaban in Panthapath.

In his address to the exhibition, Shahidul Alam, Managing Director of Drik and an acclaimed photographer, shared the harsh realities faced by Palestinian journalists. "With international media access blocked by Israel, Palestinian journalists became the sole witnesses to the destruction of hospitals, the abandonment of children in incubators, mass graves, and scenes of unimaginable suffering," Alam said.

"They witnessed people gunned down while waiting for food, pregnant women buried under rubble, and so much more. They saw too much, spoke out too much, and were picked off one by one—sometimes alone, sometimes with their families. Drones guided by technology giants tracked their phones to their death," Alam continued.

“These brave journalists, through their sacrifice, have become martyrs of truth. Their lenses reflected the darkest corners of humanity, and their stories have become a heavy burden on our collective conscience,” he added.

The solidarity exhibition is part of Drik‍‍`s ongoing resistance against Israeli aggression and its commitment to Palestinian liberation. It also called for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the ongoing genocide in Gaza.