The UN’s human rights workplace has condemned a focused Israeli assault that killed six journalists in Gaza, calling it a “grave breach” of worldwide humanitarian regulation.
5 Al Jazeera journalists, together with distinguished correspondent Anas al-Sharif, had been killed in an Israeli airstrike on Sunday night time, alongside a sixth freelance journalist.
The Israeli army stated it had focused Sharif, alleging he had “served as the pinnacle of a terrorist cell in Hamas”.
Media rights teams and nations together with Qatar have condemned the assault. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesman stated the UK authorities is “gravely involved” and referred to as for an impartial investigation.
Talking to reporters, Starmer’s official spokesman stated Israel ought to guarantee journalists can work safely and report with out worry.
The funerals of Sharif, fellow Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh and cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa occurred on Monday following the focused missile strike on their tent in Gaza Metropolis.
Mohammad al-Khaldi was named by medics at al-Shifa hospital because the sixth journalist who was killed throughout the strike, Reuters information company reported. One other particular person was additionally killed within the assault, it stated.
Reporters With out Borders, a media freedom group, strongly condemned what it referred to as the assassination of Sharif.
The International Press Affiliation stated it was outraged by the focused killing. It stated the Israeli army had repeatedly labelled Palestinian journalists “as militants, usually with out verifiable proof”.
The Committee to Shield Journalists (CPJ) stated it was appalled by the assault and Israel had failed to offer proof to again up its allegations towards him.
“Israel has a longstanding, documented sample of accusing journalists of being terrorists with out offering any credible proof,” the organisation added.
The Israeli army has steered it has paperwork present in Gaza that confirmed Sharif belonged to Hamas.
It stated these embody “personnel rosters, lists of terrorist coaching programs, telephone directories and wage paperwork”.
The one supplies which were launched for publication are screenshots of spreadsheets apparently itemizing Hamas operatives from the northern Gaza Strip, noting accidents to Hamas operatives and a piece of what’s stated to be a telephone listing for the armed group’s East Jabalia battalion.
The BBC can’t independently confirm these paperwork.
The BBC understands Sharif labored for a Hamas media group in Gaza earlier than the present battle.
Israel says he was “the pinnacle of a Hamas terrorist cell” however has produced little proof to assist that.
In a few of his social media posts earlier than his dying, the journalist may be heard criticising Hamas.
No Israeli clarification has to this point been given for the killing of the whole Al Jazeera information crew.
CPJ says at the least 186 journalists have been killed because the begin of Israel’s army offensive in Gaza in October 2023 – the deadliest interval for journalists because it started recording such knowledge in 1992.
“Israel should respect & defend all civilians, together with journalists,” the UN Human Rights workplace stated in a publish on X. “We name for rapid, secure and unhindered entry to Gaza for all journalists.”
Final month, the BBC and three different information companies – Reuters, AP and AFP – issued a joint statement expressing “determined concern” for journalists within the Strip, who they are saying are more and more unable to feed themselves and their households.
The Israeli authorities doesn’t permit worldwide information organisations, together with the BBC, into Gaza to report freely, so many shops depend on Gaza-based reporters for protection.
In the meantime in Gaza, 5 extra folks have died from malnutrition up to now 24 hours, together with one little one, in keeping with the Hamas-run well being ministry.
This brings the whole variety of malnutrition deaths to 222, together with 101 youngsters, the well being ministry stated.
The UN’s humanitarian company stated on Friday that the quantity of assist getting into Gaza continues to be “far under the minimal required to satisfy folks’s immense wants”. Final month, UN-backed world meals safety specialists warned the “worst-case situation of famine is presently taking part in out”.
Israel has continued to disclaim there’s hunger in Gaza and has accused UN companies of not selecting up assist on the borders and delivering it.
The UN’s humanitarian company has stated it continues to see impediments and delays because it tries to gather assist from Israeli-controlled border zones.
Israel launched its offensive in response to the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, during which about 1,200 folks had been killed and 251 others had been taken hostage.
Since then, 61,430 folks have been killed in Gaza on account of Israel’s army marketing campaign, in keeping with the well being ministry.
