Israeli military under fire for deadly attack on journalists, as DJV voices strong criticism
In the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military has been accused of killing a large number of Palestinian journalists, including Anas al-Sharif, a prominent figure who worked for the Al Jazeera network.
The German Journalists' Association, the DJV, has criticized the killings, stating that the accusations cannot be independently verified due to international journalists being denied access to the Gaza Strip. The DJV chairman, Mika Beuster, has expressed that it is unacceptable when media workers are specifically targeted based on unchecked allegations.
Beuster has referred to the "unbearably high number" of journalists killed since the beginning of the Gaza war, and the Al Jazeera team's location within a journalist tent that was targeted in an air strike has further fuelled concerns. Four other media workers were also reportedly killed in the incident.
The Israeli army claims that it killed Anas al-Sharif due to alleged connections to the terrorist organization Hamas. However, the network and the UN have rejected these allegations, with UNESCO’s Director-General Audrey Azoulay calling the targeting of journalists "unacceptable" and a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2222, which protects journalists in conflict situations.
The international community, including UNESCO, has condemned these killings as violations of international law. Since October 2023, UNESCO has documented at least 62 journalists killed in the course of duty in Palestine, highlighting concerns over deliberate targeting. Human rights organizations and journalist advocacy groups have repeatedly called on Israel to cease deliberate attacks on journalists, emphasizing the need to respect press freedom and ensure journalists' safety in conflict zones.
An AA spokesman has appealed to the warring parties in the Gaza Strip to make efforts to ensure that journalists can go about their work freely and safely. The Federal Foreign Office has expressed shock over the incident involving the journalist tent in Gaza City, and Mika Beuster, DJV Federal Chairman, demands clarification of the background of the killings.
Israel relies on intelligence information regarding the killings, but the lack of independent verification has led to widespread international condemnation and calls for accountability and protection of media workers in the Gaza Strip.
[1] Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), "Israeli Disinformation Campaigns Pose Threats to Palestinian Journalists," 2025. [2] Reporters Without Borders, "Israel: Deadliest Period for Journalists in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict," 2025. [3] Amnesty International, "Israel: Unprecedented Number of Journalists Killed in Gaza Conflict," 2025. [4] UNESCO, "UNESCO Condemns Killing of Journalists in Palestine," 2024.
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