Under police protection, the Gaza Tribunal took place in Hamburg. An event by lawyers about the genocide in Gaza. As a press representative, I took on a contribution regarding the role of the media. There were attempts at intimidation beforehand. So much so that the police came for security on the day of the event. The venue, the community center in Wilhelmsburg, was plastered with incitement. The event hall received an email demanding that I should not appear. I firmly opposed this. And ultimately, the hall was not pressured. This is important. Civil society must never be intimidated. At least this time the police were outside for protection, and not inside for monitoring. Either way, I would have traveled to Hamburg. The German Lawyers for International Law (DJfdV) organized a fantastic event. With important insights into the legal assessment of the genocide in Gaza and other sub-issues by experts such as Benjamin Düsberg, Ammar Boustami, Sebastian Scheerer, Yolanda Scheytt, and Alexander Gorski. My contribution was based on the accounts of the witness of the genocide, Abed Hassan. Abed made it clear through his personal experiences and records that German media should have been aware early on of specific genocidal acts. My colleague Fabian Goldmann also provided a brilliant contribution regarding the role of German media. I spoke about the fact that journalism must fearlessly, clearly, and loudly name this urgent truth - namely, that a genocide is taking place. Also, because the press should represent civil society against the powerful. The great German Jewish journalist Carl von Ossietzky, who was deported to a concentration camp by the Nazis for his truth, reminded us at the time that journalism should not shy away from this danger. The risk must be the driving force. Journalism must not be a "life insurance." In this sense, I view every attempt to be censored as praise. (translated)
