The United Nations human rights office has sharply condemned what it described as a targeted Israeli strike in Gaza that killed six journalists, calling the incident a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
Five of those killed were Al Jazeera staff members, including well-known correspondent Anas al-Sharif, while a sixth was identified as freelance journalist Mohammad al-Khaldi. The missile strike hit a tent in Gaza City late Sunday night, according to local officials.
Israeli military officials confirmed they had targeted Sharif, claiming he was the leader of a Hamas “terrorist cell.” They also said documents recovered in Gaza linked him to the group, citing personnel rosters, training lists, salary records, and a phone directory. Only partial materials, such as spreadsheet screenshots, have been released publicly. Sharif had previously worked for a Hamas media team in Gaza, but in some of his recent social media posts he criticized the group.
Media rights organizations, governments, and press associations have condemned the attack. Qatar and several advocacy groups, including Reporters Without Borders, described the strike as an assassination. The Foreign Press Association said it was “outraged” and criticized the Israeli military for repeatedly labeling Palestinian journalists as militants “often without verifiable evidence.” The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) added that Israel has “a longstanding, documented pattern of accusing journalists of being terrorists without providing any credible proof.”
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesperson said the British government is “gravely concerned” about the killings and called for an independent investigation. The spokesperson stressed that journalists must be able to work without fear for their safety.
Funerals for Sharif, fellow correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh, cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa took place Monday. Al-Khaldi, the sixth victim, was named by medical staff at al-Shifa Hospital. Another person also died in the strike, according to Reuters.
The UN human rights office stated that Israel must protect all civilians, including journalists, and called for “immediate, safe, and unhindered” press access to Gaza. It also noted that at least 186 journalists have been killed since Israel began its military offensive in Gaza in October 2023 — the deadliest period for journalists since CPJ began keeping records in 1992.
International media outlets such as the BBC, Reuters, AP, and AFP recently issued a joint statement voicing “desperate concern” for Gaza-based journalists, who they say are increasingly struggling to feed themselves and their families. Israel has barred foreign media from entering Gaza independently, leaving news organizations dependent on local reporters for coverage.
Meanwhile, Gaza’s health ministry, run by Hamas, reported five more deaths from malnutrition in the past 24 hours, including a child. This brings the total number of reported starvation-related deaths to 222, with 101 of them children. The UN humanitarian agency warned that aid entering Gaza remains “far below” the level needed to address the crisis and reiterated that the “worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out.” Israel has denied there is starvation in Gaza and accused UN agencies of failing to collect and distribute aid from border crossings, while aid groups say they face ongoing delays and restrictions.
Israel launched its military campaign after the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, which killed around 1,200 people and saw 251 others taken hostage. According to Gaza’s health ministry, at least 61,430 people have been killed in the territory since the offensive began.
