Kenyan journalist Bill Otieno has written a bold open letter to U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, following the announcement of a historic Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal.
In the letter issued on Wednesday, October 15, Otieno condemned what he described as the targeted killing of journalists in Gaza during the conflict. He accused the warring parties of deliberately silencing members of the press who were working to expose the realities of war.
“Journalists are not collateral damage. They are observers protected under international law. And yet, in this war, press workers became deliberate targets, silenced for exposing what many wished hidden,” he wrote.
Otieno’s letter presented three key demands to Trump and Netanyahu. First, he urged them to acknowledge and honor journalists who were killed in Gaza, describing them as “victims of attacks on press freedom.”
Second, he called on the leaders to commit to protecting media workers in all future conflicts in line with international law. Finally, he demanded accountability for what he termed a “climate of impunity” that has enabled violence against journalists.
“Peace without accountability is a hollow declaration. True peace demands the courage to recognize uncomfortable truths, to admit wrongs, and to protect those who ensure the world is watching,” Otieno added.
The open letter followed the October 8 ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas — the first phase of Trump’s proposed 20-point peace plan. The deal includes the release of all hostages, the exchange of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from parts of Gaza.
An international Board of Peace, chaired by Trump and featuring global leaders like Tony Blair, is set to oversee Gaza’s post-war recovery.
If successfully implemented, the deal could mark a major turning point in efforts to end the two-year conflict that has devastated the region.
