The UN's human rights office highlighted the ordeal as a significant violation of humanitarian protocols, igniting global calls for accountability.
UN Condemns Fatal Israeli Airstrike on Al Jazeera Journalists
UN Condemns Fatal Israeli Airstrike on Al Jazeera Journalists
International bodies denounce targeted attack in Gaza that claimed the lives of six journalists.
The recent Israeli airstrike in Gaza, which resulted in the deaths of six journalists, including five from Al Jazeera, has drawn sharp rebukes from the UN and various media rights organizations. The attack, occurring on Sunday night, claimed the life of prominent reporter Anas al-Sharif, whom the Israeli military accused of leading a Hamas terrorist cell. This assertion has been met with skepticism, as no substantial evidence has been presented to support the claims against Sharif.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s office expressed grave concerns over the consequences of the attack, asserting the need for Israel to secure a safe environment for journalists. The funerals of the fallen journalists, including Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa, took place on Monday, emphasizing the human cost of the conflict. Among those killed was freelance journalist Mohammad al-Khaldi.
Media rights organizations, such as Reporters Without Borders, labeled the assault on the journalists as an assassination, while the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned Israel for its unfounded accusations against journalists without credible evidence. In response, Israel points to documents purportedly recovered from Gaza that it contends link Sharif to Hamas operations.
Despite ongoing military operations, Israel’s government has not adequately clarified the rationale behind targeting the entire Al Jazeera team. Furthermore, CPJ reported a troubling trend, marking this as the deadliest period recorded for journalists since their data collection began in 1992, highlighting the menace faced by reporters amid this escalating violence.
The UN's human rights office has called for immediate access for journalists to Gaza, reiterating its demand for Israel to respect civilian life, including that of media personnel. Meanwhile, Gaza continues to suffer from severe food shortages; the Hamas-run health ministry reported five new deaths due to malnutrition, contributing to a tragic total of 222 fatalities since the start of the conflict.
Israeli authorities continue to deny allegations of starvation in Gaza and attribute responsibility to delays by international aid organizations. Following the escalation of violence from Hamas's attack on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in significant casualties, the ongoing conflict has led to a staggering number of casualties in Gaza, reported to be over 61,000 individuals.
