Translated with AI
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) called for immediate action and accountability for those responsible for the killing of five Palestinian journalists in the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces, OHCHR spokesperson Tamin Al-Khitan said on Tuesday.
He said condemnation of the Israeli airstrikes on Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis must translate into concrete measures to hold those responsible accountable. The strikes on Monday killed at least 20 people, including four medical workers and five journalists: Ahed Abu Aziz, Hussam al-Masri, Mariam Dagga, Mohammed Salama, and Moaz Abu Taha. The journalists covered the events for Middle East Eye, Associated Press, Al Jazeera, and Reuters.
Footage from the scene captured a second airstrike, apparently targeting rescue workers arriving at the site of the initial attack on the largest medical facility in southern Gaza. Al-Khitan noted that one journalist was killed in the first strike, and three others, including a female journalist, were killed in the second. "Since October 7, 2023, at least 247 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Gaza. These media workers are the eyes and ears of the world and must be protected," the OHCHR representative emphasized.
Al-Khitan recalled that attacks on journalists and medical facilities are prohibited by international law and demanded a thorough investigation of all incidents.
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay also condemned the killing of journalists and called for compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 2222, adopted unanimously in 2015, which provides for the protection of media workers. UNESCO is stepping up emergency assistance for journalists in Gaza, including psychosocial support and access to working equipment.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the journalists' deaths as a "tragic accident" and stated that the army would conduct a "thorough investigation." An OHCHR representative emphasized that previous Israeli investigations into similar cases have been inconclusive, and measures to hold those responsible accountable remain lacking.
