United Nations secretary-general demands unbiased investigation into the reported murder of six journalists in Gaza by Israel.
In an alarming turn of events, six journalists were tragically killed in a precision bombing by the Israeli army in Gaza on August 10, 2025. The victims, all working diligently to bring news from the conflict zone, included Palestinian journalist Anas Al-Sharif (Al Jazeera) and five of his colleagues, including cameramen and a journalism student.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed Al-Sharif was a Hamas cell leader posing as a journalist. However, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) rejected this assertion, emphasizing that international law only permits targeting active combatants, not media professionals, irrespective of any alleged political affiliations.
The United Nations (UN), under the leadership of Secretary-General António Guterres, has strongly condemned the killings, viewing them as a grave breach of international law and a serious attack on press freedom. Guterres called for an "independent and impartial investigation" into these targeted killings.
UNESCO's Director-General Audrey Azoulay also condemned the killings as "unacceptable" and in violation of international law protecting journalists. She cited UN Security Council Resolution 2222 (2015), which mandates the protection of journalists in conflict zones.
The tragic loss of these journalists underscores the heightened risks they face while performing their duties. Since October 2023, dozens of journalists have been killed in Palestine, highlighting the urgent need for accountability.
Media organizations and human rights groups, including the CPJ and likely Reporters Without Borders (RSF), have called for an independent and impartial investigation by the international community to clarify the circumstances and ensure justice. They also advocate for reinforcing measures to safeguard journalists in conflict zones.
The information office of the Gaza government raised the number of journalists killed on Sunday night in an Israeli precision attack on their tent near Al-Shifa Hospital in the city of Gaza. The Israeli army admitted to the killings, but the precise reasons remain unclear.
In a statement, RSF's director-general, Thibaut Bruttin, described the attack as a strategy "designed to conceal the crimes committed by Israel's Army during more than 21 months in the besieged and starving Palestinian enclave." The NGO states that the attack targeted Al-Jazeera reporter Anas Al-Sharif, whom they accuse, without solid evidence, of 'terrorist affiliation.'
Journalists and media professionals must be respected, protected, and allowed to do their job freely, according to the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric. The CPJ, RSF, and the UN are urging the UN Security Council to meet urgently to discuss this matter and take necessary actions to uphold the principles of press freedom and international law.
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