EU denounces airstrike in Gaza resulting in deaths of Al Jazeera journalists
EU Condemns Killing of Al Jazeera Journalists in Gaza, Calls for Transparency and Evidence
The European Union (EU) has strongly condemned the killing of five or six Al Jazeera journalists, including correspondent Anas Al-Sharif, in an Israeli airstrike near al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas issued the condemnation following a virtual meeting of EU foreign ministers focused on the ongoing war.
Kallas emphasized the need for transparency and legal standards in the case, stating that clear evidence must be provided under legal standards before any justification for the strikes can be considered. The EU's concern stems from Israel's allegations that some of the journalists belonged to Hamas "terrorist cells."
Israel had issued a statement on Sunday, clarifying that Al-Sharif, despite working as an Al Jazeera journalist, had led a Hamas terrorist cell and was responsible for advancing rocket attacks targeting Israeli civilians. However, Kallas's statement noted that such allegations must be backed by clear and compelling evidence to avoid targeting journalists, a violation of international law.
The EU's condemnation also comes amidst concerns about the limited implementation of an EU-brokered deal to increase aid access to Gaza. Despite the deal, humanitarian needs remain critical, and the EU has urged Israel to allow more aid trucks and better distribution.
The killing of Al Jazeera journalists is seen as part of a broader pattern of deliberate attacks on journalists by Israeli forces, which raises serious concerns under international law about war crimes. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has highlighted that the recent airstrike has killed six Al Jazeera journalists, with 10 staff journalists and nine freelancers from Al Jazeera killed during the conflict overall, pointing to a deliberate effort to silence coverage.
In summary, the EU condemns the killings but calls for clear, legal proof of Israel’s claims before justifying the strikes. The EU also urges Israel to enable more humanitarian aid access, while international watchdogs warn that targeting journalists constitutes a war crime and demands greater transparency.
The European Union (EU) has denounced the killing of Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza during the ongoing war-and-conflicts, and expressed concerns about the politics surrounding the events. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged for transparency and evidence to be presented according to legal standards, as allegations of ties between some journalists and Hamas could potentially violate international law in the context of general-news reporting.
