As well as head of the PJS, Toubassi was elected to the IFJ’s Executive Committee at its Congress in Athens in 2004 and re-elected three years later in Moscow. He also served as Deputy General Secretary of the Federation of Arab Journalists.
Following the kidnapping of BBC reporter Alan Johnston in Gaza, Toubassi organised demonstrations and campaigned vigorously for his release, working with Alan's own union the NUJ in the UK.
In a statement the PJS said: “The PJS send its condolences to the family of Toubassi and the Palestinian journalists. Toubassi, who died this morning, lead the fight to defend the rights of Palestinian journalists during some of the most difficult hours for the media and the Palestinian people”.
IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger also sent condolences to the union and Toubassi’s family.