Tributes, condemnation pour in for slain Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza

5 months ago 35

An outpouring of grief and condemnation has followed the Israeli assassination of 5 Al Jazeera unit successful Gaza, including salient analogous Anas al-Sharif.

The drone onslaught precocious connected Sunday deed a structure for journalists positioned extracurricular the main gross of Gaza City’s al-Shifa Hospital, sidesplitting 7 people. Among the dormant were Al Jazeera analogous Mohammed Qreiqeh and camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Moamen Aliwa and Mohammed Noufal.

Just hours earlier, al-Sharif, 28, had posted connected X astir Israel’s “intense, concentrated bombardment” connected eastbound and confederate Gaza City. Known for his fearless reporting from bluish Gaza, helium had go 1 of the astir recognisable voices documenting the ongoing Israeli genocide successful the enclave.

Al Jazeera Media Network has condemned what it called a “targeted assassination” of its journalists.

Below are a fewer of the responses to the sidesplitting of Al Jazeera staff:

Palestine

The Palestinian ngo to the United Nations accused Israel of “deliberately assassinating” al-Sharif and Qreiqeh, describing them arsenic among the “last remaining journalists” successful Gaza.

“They person systematically and dutifully exposed and documented Israel’s genocide and starvation,” the ngo said connected X. “As Israel continues to ethnically cleanse Gaza, its force remains the truth: the brave journalists exposing its heinous crimes.”

Iran

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei has called connected the satellite to clasp Israel to relationship aft the sidesplitting of the 5 Al Jazeera staff.

“A property badge is nary shield against genocidal warfare criminals who fearfulness the satellite witnessing their atrocities,” said Baghaei, accusing Israel of assassinating the journalists “in acold blood”.

“Strong condemnation is the bare minimum for immoderate decent quality being, but the satellite indispensable enactment instantly to halt this harrowing genocide and clasp the criminals accountable,” helium added.

“Indifference and inaction are complicity successful Israel’s crimes.”

United Nations

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, offered condolences to “the Al Jazeera family” and called for an investigation.

“We person ever been precise wide successful condemning each killings of journalists,” Dujarric said. “In Gaza, and everywhere, media workers should beryllium capable to transportation retired their enactment freely and without harassment, intimidation oregon fearfulness of being targeted.”

Al Jazeera Media Network has condemned “in the strongest terms” the sidesplitting of its journalists successful a targeted assassination by Israeli forces.

In a statement, the web said the Israeli subject “admitted to their crimes” and deliberately directed the onslaught astatine the journalists’ location. It called the assassination “another blatant and premeditated onslaught connected property freedom”.

The onslaught came amid what Al Jazeera described arsenic the “catastrophic consequences” of Israel’s ongoing battle connected Gaza, including wide civilian deaths, forced starvation, and the demolition of full communities.

The web called the sidesplitting of al-Sharif, 1 of Gaza’s astir salient reporters, and his colleagues “a hopeless effort to soundlessness the voices exposing the impending seizure and concern of Gaza”.

Committee to Protect Journalists

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says it is “appalled” by Israel’s sidesplitting of Al Jazeera journalists.

“Israel’s signifier of labeling journalists arsenic militants without providing credible grounds raises superior questions astir its intent and respect for property freedom,” said the CPJ’s determination director, Sara Qudah.

“Those liable for these killings indispensable beryllium held accountable,” Qudah added.

Jodie Ginsberg, CEO of the CPJ, recalled however Israel accused al-Sharif and others of being “terrorists” past October without evidence.

“We warned backmost past that this felt to america similar a precursor to warrant assassination,” she told Al Jazeera. “This is portion of a signifier … going backmost decades, successful which it kills journalists.”

Amnesty International

Amnesty International condemned the onslaught arsenic a warfare transgression nether planetary instrumentality and remembered al-Sharif arsenic a “brave and extraordinary” reporter.

In 2024, al-Sharif was awarded Amnesty International Australia’s Human Rights Defender Award for his resilience and committedness to property freedom.

“We astatine Amnesty International are devastated and heartbroken,” said Mohamed Duar, Amnesty International Australia’s spokesperson connected the occupied Palestinian territory. “Anas dedicated his beingness to lasting earlier the camera, exposing Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians, and documenting the information truthful the satellite could carnivore witness.

“The courageous and brave journalists who person been reporting since the genocide began person been operating successful the astir unsafe conditions connected Earth. At large hazard to their lives, they person remained to amusement the satellite the warfare crimes being committed by Israel against astir 2 cardinal Palestinian women, men and children,” helium added.

National Press Club

Mike Balsamo, president of the US-based National Press Club, said the sidesplitting of journalists is “a nonaccomplishment felt acold beyond 1 newsroom” and urged a “thorough and transparent” investigation.

“Journalists indispensable beryllium capable to enactment without being targeted oregon killed,” Balsamo said. “All parties successful struggle zones indispensable honour their obligations nether planetary instrumentality to support reporters and guarantee they tin transportation retired their enactment safely.”

The Council connected American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

The Council connected American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has condemned Israel’s sidesplitting of 5 Al Jazeera journalists and called connected US and planetary media workers to “stand successful solidarity” with their Palestinian colleagues.

“Israel’s ongoing run of targeted assassinations of Palestinian journalists is simply a warfare crime, plain and simple,” CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said successful a statement.

“The execution of these Al Jazeera journalists is not an mishap oregon collateral harm – it is portion of a consistent, documented argumentation of silencing media voices and hiding the information of the genocide being carried retired by Israel successful Gaza,” Awad said.