New Delhi, Jan. 3: A veteran investigative journalist and documentary filmmaker who advocated for Palestine from Australia, has passed away. His family confirmed his death using his own social media handle on X: ‘It is with great sadness that the family of John Pilger announces he died on December 30, 2023, in London, aged 84. His journalism and documentaries were celebrated around the world, but to his family, he was simply the most amazing and loved Dad, Grandad, and partner. Rest In Peace.’ The tweet reads.
Born on October 9, 1939, in Sydney, Australia, John Pilger, the younger of two boys, began his journalism career as a freelancer in the late 1950s. In the early sixties, he moved to London to further his career. Pilger gained renown for his commitment to uncovering injustices and abuses of power, especially in politics and international affairs. His fearless investigative journalism has left a lasting impact, establishing him as a tireless advocate for truth and accountability.
His books include Heroes (1986), Distant Voices (1992), Hidden Agendas (1998), The New Rulers of the World (2002), and Tell Me No Lies (2004).
He has been honored with numerous awards, including the 1966 Descriptive Writer of the Year, 1967 Journalist of the Year, and the 2009 Sydney Peace Prize. His achievements span various categories, from news reporting to campaigning journalism, earning recognition globally.
In 1977, Pilger made a documentary called ‘Palestine Is Still The Issue,’ highlighting the plight of Palestinians expelled from their land in 1948 and 1967. He revisited the region, questioning why, despite UN recognition, Palestinians remain refugees in their own land, enduring the longest modern military occupation by Israel.
He said, ‘When the Palestinians rise again, as they will, they may not succeed at first – but they will eventually if we understand that they are us, and we are them.’
‘The blood never dries in Palestine. The crowds and flags in London and other UK cities today are a glimpse of the resistance all over the world to the barbarism and lies of an occupation sponsored and armed by the West’s ‘leaders’ – those who demand your support. Deny it now.’ Writes on X
