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The United Nations has condemned a recent Israeli airstrike that killed six journalists in Gaza, including prominent Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif.

Getting into it: The strike, carried out late Sunday in Gaza City, hit a press tent outside the Al-Shifa Hospital complex, killing al-Sharif, fellow Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh, cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Moamen Aliwa, Mohammed Noufal, and Mohammed al-Khaldi. Al-Sharif was one Gaza’s most recognized reporters, known for his coverage since day one of the conflict.

Israel quickly claimed responsibility, pointing to past allegations that al-Sharif was the head of a Hamas terrorist cell involved in planning rocket attacks. The IDF said it had obtained documents from Gaza linking him to Hamas, including personnel rosters and phone directories, as well as undated photos showing him with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. The military released only partial evidence (including the photo attached above).

Al Jazeera and al-Sharif himself had repeatedly dismissed the claims as baseless, calling them part of an Israeli “smear campaign” against Palestinian journalists. The network described the attack as a “targeted assassination” and “premeditated attack on press freedom,” arguing that it was aimed at silencing one of the last prominent voices reporting from inside Gaza.

Photo from the IDF

The United Nations Human Rights Office has since called the strike a “grave breach of international law” and urged Israel to respect the protections afforded to journalists under the Geneva Conventions. UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression Irene Khan said the killings appeared to be part of a deliberate strategy to “suppress the truth” and “obstruct the documentation of international crimes.” Press freedom groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders, demanded an independent investigation, accusing Israel of a pattern of labeling journalists as militants without credible evidence.

World leaders and officials have echoed these concerns. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s spokeswoman said the government was “gravely concerned” and stressed that journalists must be allowed to work safely without fear of attack.