EU's Foreign Affairs Chief Kallas voices condemnation over slaying of five Palestinian journalists - European Union's foreign policy chief strongly criticizes the murder of five Palestinian news reporters
In a tragic incident that has sparked global outrage, five Palestinian journalists, including Al-Sharif, were killed in an attack on a tent used by journalists in Gaza City. The incident, which took place near the Al-Shifa Hospital, has been widely regarded as a violation of international humanitarian law.
Journalists, being protected civilians under such law, should not be targeted in conflict zones. The attack, reportedly an Israeli military attack, has been condemned as a war crime by various press freedom organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
This incident is part of a broader pattern where at least 212 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza in connection with the ongoing conflict, many in targeted Israeli strikes on media-related sites. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has reported multiple cases of journalists killed in Israeli strikes on media workers' tents and other locations in Gaza.
The targeting of journalists is seen as a systematic effort to suppress independent reporting on the conflict. The UN Human Rights Commissioner's office in Geneva identified the incident as a "serious violation of international humanitarian law," while Reporters Without Borders expressed anger over the killing of the journalists and called it a "murder admitted by the Israeli army."
While these killings have sparked calls for investigations, concrete details about formal international investigations into the incident remain limited. The EU, through its representatives, has not provided a specific reaction, but given the impact on journalists, it is likely to be involved.
Israeli authorities have claimed that Al-Sharif, who was identified as a member of the Hamas terrorist organization by the Israeli military, was responsible for rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and IDF troops. However, these claims have not been independently verified.
In summary, the killing of the journalists in the tent near Al-Shifa Hospital, including Al-Sharif, is a grave violation of international humanitarian law and has drawn strong international condemnation. It is part of a broader pattern of journalist casualties in Gaza amid ongoing hostilities, with calls for accountability and investigations by press freedom watchdogs and human rights organizations.
Journalists, as protected civilians, should not be targeted during war and conflicts, as evidenced by the ongoing situation in the Gaza Strip, where numerous journalists have been killed, including the incident near Al-Shifa Hospital, which has sparked political discussions and general news coverage. The European Union, given its concern over the recent events in Gaza, may become involved in further investigating these grave violations of international humanitarian law.
