Al Jazeera has accused the Israeli military of deliberately killing five of its journalists in an attack on Gaza City, calling it a direct assault on press freedom.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Qatar-based broadcaster said the strike targeted a tent used by its correspondents outside Al-Shifa Hospital on Sunday. It described the incident as “another blatant and premeditated assault” against the media, holding both the Israeli army and government responsible for what it called the “assassination” of its staff.
Al Jazeera linked the attack to what it described as Israel’s “ongoing genocide” in Gaza, marked by mass civilian deaths, forced starvation, and widespread destruction. It alleged that the targeting of its journalists was aimed at silencing coverage of the “impending seizure and occupation” of the territory.
The network urged the international community and press freedom organisations to take urgent steps to protect journalists and hold those responsible to account.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said one of the slain journalists was affiliated with Hamas, a claim Al Jazeera has not addressed directly.
