Every day since October 7, AFP's team of journalists in Gaza have been risking their lives to cover a war that has shaken the world. They have all had to flee their homes, working without respite in the shadow of death in a territory they are not allowed to leave.

An aerial view on December 26, 2023 shows destroyed buildings in Beit Lahia following Israeli bombardments in the northern Gaza Strip. Mohammed Abed / AFP

AFP's Whatsapp Channels are now fully operational and certified. Named 'AFP News' in English and 'Agence France-Presse' in French, the accounts are currently managed by the social media teams in Paris and London.

Whatsapp Channels have proven instrumental for media outlets aiming to build and engage communities among Meta's 3 billion users on social networks, including Facebook and Instagram.

Akin to the interactive nature of traditional chats on Whatsapp, channel subscribers have the option to react to posts using emojis, without the option of leaving comments.

AFP staff showed their support for their colleagues in Gaza on Wednesday, urging Israeli authorities to guarantee their safety and allow them to leave the territory if needed to seek refuge.

AFP staff members gathered at the Paris headquarters and several offices around the world, symbolically holding pictures of their nine Gazan colleagues. The initiative was organised by the Agency's management along with unions and the French Society of Journalists.