TEHRAN – Despite growing international condemnation following the murder of six journalists in Gaza, Israeli military operations continue unabated, causing serious civilian casualties and deepening the humanitarian crisis of Palestinian territory.
About 90 Palestinians, including dozens of people seeking assistance, have been killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza in the past 24 hours, and more than 500 have been injured, according to a report from the Palestinian Ministry of Health on Tuesday. The ministry also said five more Palestinians, including two children, have died of starvation, resulting in starvation deaths of 103 of the 227 children since Israel began its war with Gaza in October 2023.
The United Nations, the European Union, and key Israeli allies, such as the Germany and France, have condemned the targeted killings of journalists. Protests and commemorations have erupted around the world, demanding accountability for these attacks.
Monuments and demonstrations for murdered journalists take place in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as cities around the world, including Berlin, The Hague, Washington, London, Oslo and Stockholm, highlighting the global resonance of this tragedy.
Late Sunday, Israeli airstrikes crashed into a media tent outside the main gate of Al-Sifa Hospital in Gaza city, killing six Al-Jazira journalists, including Anas Al-Sharif, a well-known figure in the Gaza media community. Journalists have condemned the murder of their colleagues worldwide.
Patricia Esami Luba, a Nigerian journalist and international diplomatic correspondent, told the Tehran Times:
Speaking to Tehran Times, CGTN radio reporter and international affairs commentator Xu Yawen described the killing as “a blatant attack on freedom of the press and a serious violation of international humanitarian law.” Chinese journalists said there is no credible evidence for Israel’s claims linking journalists to Hamas, and fits the unsettling pattern of targeting media workers to curb information about Gaza’s military operations.
The UN says at least 242 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Gaza since Israel began the war 22 months ago. Citing these numbers, Xu added that Israel’s ignorance of international law continues to do something that is politically supported by the US and is barely checked. “The international community must unite and act decisively to hold Israel accountable and end this cycle of violence,” she said.
“The voices of Palestinian journalists should not be silent,” Xu emphasized. “The global media and the public must continue to be sensitive to Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. Only by supporting the two states’ solutions and moving forward with political solutions can this end of this endless bloodshed and conflict.”
The attacks that intentionally target journalists represent a clear and gross violation of international humanitarian law, constitute a serious violation of freedom of the press and the fundamental right of the people to access information during armed conflicts. Under the Geneva Convention, these actions could represent war crimes, requiring immediate and impartial investigation and accountability from those responsible.
Gaza journalists are protected under international law, but repeated killings and attacks against them are a severe violation of these protections. Media workers play an integral role in exposing the reality of conflict and documenting human rights violations. By allowing perpetrators to act with immunity, it not only undermines the rule of law, but also encourages further violations against journalists and obstructs transparency.
The international community is urgently legal and ethical responsibility to strengthen diplomatic efforts to implement protection of journalists, ensure the justice of victims, and achieve a peaceful solution that respects the human rights and dignity of all affected groups.