The four targeted Al-Jazeera Journalists killed i Israeli attack in Gaza on Sunday; From left- Anas Al-Sharif, Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Mohammed Qreiqeh.
AUG. 12 — The UN’s human rights office has condemned a targeted Israeli attack that killed six journalists in Gaza, calling it a grave breach of international law.
Five Al Jazeera journalists, including correspondent Anas al-Sharif, were killed in an Israeli air strike on Sunday. Two others were killed, including a freelance journalist.
Israel’s military said it targeted Sharif, alleging he had “served as the head of a terrorist cell in Hamas” – something Sharif denied. Israel provided little evidence.
In social media posts before his death, the journalist is heard criticising Hamas.
Media rights groups and countries including Qatar condemned the attack.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesman said the UK government was “gravely concerned” and called for an independent investigation.
Speaking to reporters, Starmer’s official spokesman said Israel should ensure journalists can work safely and report without fear.
The funerals of Sharif, fellow Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh, and cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa took place on Monday following the targeted missile strike on their tent in Gaza City.
Streets in Gaza were thronged with crowds gathered for the funerals. Anas al-Sharif was a household name who had millions of followers online.
Reporters Without Borders, a media freedom group, strongly condemned what it called the assassination of Sharif.
The Foreign Press Association said it was outraged by the targeted killing. It said the Israeli military had repeatedly labelled Palestinian journalists “as militants, often without verifiable evidence”.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said it was appalled by the attack and that Israel had failed to provide evidence to back up its allegations against Sharif.
“Israel has a longstanding, documented pattern of accusing journalists of being terrorists without providing any credible proof,” the organisation added.
The Israeli military has suggested it has documents found in Gaza that confirmed Sharif belonged to Hamas.
It said these include “personnel rosters, lists of terrorist training courses, phone directories and salary documents”.
No Israeli explanation has so far been given for the killing of the entire Al Jazeera news crew.
Meanwhile in Gaza, five more people have died from malnutrition in the past 24 hours, including one child, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. This brings the total number of malnutrition deaths to 222, including 101 children, the health ministry said.
Israel launched its offensive in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
Since then, 61,430 people have been killed in Gaza as a result of Israel’s military campaign.
