Global outrage over Israeli killings of Al Jazeera journalists

Israel's assassination of Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza has sparked widespread rebuke and is seen as an effort to silence those reporting the ongoing catastrophe, as Israeli forces continue their military aggressions in the Gaza Strip.

International media widely reported that Al Jazeera correspondents Anas al-Sharif, Mohammed Qreiqeh, cameramen Ibrahim Zaher and Moamen Aliwa, and their assistant Mohammed Noufal were killed by Israeli forces.

A sixth journalist, Mohammad al-Khaldi, was killed in an air attack outside al-Shifa Hospital alongside the five Al Jazeera staff, according to Reuters, quoting hospital staff.

The United Nations Human Rights Office slammed the killings of Palestinian journalists in Gaza, calling it a "grave breach of international humanitarian law".

It urged Israel to respect and protect all civilians, including journalists, and called for immediate, safe and unhindered access to Gaza for all journalists.

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani was among the latest government officials to condemn the killings.

"The deliberate targeting of journalists by Israel in the Gaza Strip reveals how these crimes are beyond imagination, amid the inability of the international community and its laws to stop this tragedy. May God have mercy on journalists Anas Al-Sharif, Mohammed Qraiqea, and their colleagues," he posted on X.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei called for the world to hold Israel accountable for the killings.

A press badge, he said, "is no shield against genocidal war criminals who fear the world witnessing their atrocities". "Indifference and inaction are complicity in Israel's crimes," said the Iranian official.

US Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal called for the United States to stop arming Israel in a post on her X account.

"The Israeli military has killed more than 200 journalists and media workers. The latest strike killed 5 journalists, including a prominent Al Jazeera journalist. The US must stop providing weapons for this genocide," said Jayapal.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) also shared similar sentiments condemning Israel's killing of the five Al Jazeera staff in Gaza.

It urged the United Nations Security Council to hold an emergency meeting on the basis of Resolution 2222 of 2015 on the protection of journalists in armed conflict, the group said in a statement as reported by Al Jazeera.

"Without strong action by the international community to stop the Israeli army, which is the subject of four complaints filed by RSF with the International Criminal Court for war crimes committed against journalists in Gaza, we risk seeing more of such extrajudicial killings of media professionals," it added.

The former leader of the United Kingdom's Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn said in a post on X that the "deliberate and relentless killing of Palestinian journalists is sickening beyond words — and is a desperate attempt to silence the truth about Israel's ongoing crimes against humanity".

"Shame on all those who empowered Israel to murder with impunity," said Corbyn.

The Jewish Council of Australia said in a statement posted on X that with the deliberate assassination of Al Jazeera journalists and Israel's plans to permanently occupy Gaza, the Australian government "must take meaningful action and suspend military ties to Israel!"

The Australian government on Monday announced that it would recognize a Palestinian state in September.

"Recognition must be combined with accountability. If Australia truly supports Palestinian self-determination, it must end all military cooperation with Israel and hold Israel accountable for its ongoing genocide and deliberate starvation of Gaza. You cannot endorse Palestinian statehood with one hand while supplying parts of the weapons that destroy it with the other," said Sarah Schwartz, executive officer of the Jewish Council of Australia.

Antony Loewenstein, advisory committee members of the Jewish Council of Australia, noted that Israel "continues its efforts of hiding the reality on the ground from the international community".

"And, remarkably, even as we see Israel openly targeting and murdering Palestinian journalists – a war crime according to international law – many foreign media outlets continue to reproduce Israel Defense Forces messaging about these unlawful killings. This must stop," said Loewenstein.

Statement by Al Jazeera Media Network

In a statement, released on Aug 11, the Al Jazeera Media Network condemned in the strongest terms the targeted assassination of its correspondents Anas Al Sharif and Mohammed Qraiqea, along with photographers Ibrahim Al Thaher, and Mohamed Nofal, "by Israeli occupation forces in yet another blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom".

It said the attack comes amid the catastrophic consequences of the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza, which has seen the relentless slaughter of civilians, forced starvation, and the obliteration of entire communities.

"The order to assassinate Anas Al Sharif, one of Gaza's bravest journalists, and his colleagues is a desperate attempt to silence the voices exposing the impending seizure and occupation of Gaza," said Al Jazeera.

Adding that it holds "the Israeli occupation forces and government responsible for deliberately targeting and assassinating its journalists".

"This follows repeated incitement and calls by multiple Israeli officials and spokespersons to target the fearless journalist Anas Al Sharif and his colleagues," said Al Jazeera.

It also noted that while international media was barred from entering, Al Jazeera journalists remained within besieged Gaza, experiencing the hunger and suffering they documented through their lenses.

"Through continuous, courageous live coverage, they have delivered searing eyewitness accounts of the horrors unleashed over 22 months of relentless bombing and destruction," said Al Jazeera.

The Al Jazeera Media Network also called on the international community and all relevant organizations "to take decisive measures to halt this ongoing genocide and end the deliberate targeting of journalists".

"Al Jazeera emphasizes that immunity for perpetrators and the lack of accountability embolden Israel's actions and encourage further oppression against witnesses to the truth," its statement concluded.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed in a post on X that it struck "Hamas terrorist" Al-Sharif "who posed as an Al Jazeera journalist".

But the RSF previously warned that "unfounded accusations" against Al-Sharif put him "at high risk of being targeted" by Israel. The Committee to Protect Journalist, which had warned in July that Al Sharif's life was at risk, said Israel had failed to produce credible evidence to substantiate its claims.

Al-Sharif's last will and final message was posted on his X account.

"If these words reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice," Al-Sharif's message said.

He also urged "not to let chains silence you, nor borders restrain you" and be "bridges toward the liberation of the land and its people until the sun of dignity and freedom rises over our stolen homeland".

"I entrust you to take care of my family. I entrust you with my beloved daughter Sham, the light of my eyes, whom I never got the chance to watch grow up as I had dreamed. I entrust you with my dear son Salah, whom I had wished to support and accompany through life until he grew strong enough to carry my burden and continue the mission," said Al-Sharif.

"Do not forget Gaza… And do not forget me in your sincere prayers for forgiveness and acceptance," he concluded.