The United States will always insist on the need to protect journalists reporting from Gaza during the conflict between Israel and Hamas, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a letter to Agence France-Presse (AFP).

AFP and other international media groups had written to Blinken in late October urging his help in protecting journalists on the ground in Gaza after several were killed since the outbreak of fighting.

“The United States has and will continue to underscore with Israel, and with all countries, that journalists must be protected from harm,” Blinken wrote.

“We stand unequivocally for the protection of journalists during armed conflict and mourn those who have been killed or injured.”

Since the war between Israel and Hamas began in October, at least 63 journalists and media workers — 56 Palestinian, four Israeli and three Lebanese — have been killed, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.