UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned the killing of six journalists, including five Al Jazeera staff, in an Israeli airstrike near Gaza City’s Al-Shifa Hospital calling for an independent and impartial investigation into the deadly incident.
The fatal airstrike on August 10, 2025, struck a clearly marked press tent near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, killing five Al Jazeera journalists—Anas al-Sharif, Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa—as well as freelance reporter Mohammad al-Khaldi .
Guterres, through his spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, decried the killings as “unacceptable” and underscored the extreme risks journalists face in conflict zones. “Journalists and media workers must be respected and protected and allowed to carry out their work free from intimidation or harm,” he said, adding that the incident demands a “fully independent and impartial investigation” .
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The UN human rights office described the attack as a grave breach of international humanitarian law, highlighting that at least 242 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Gaza since the war began . The continued targeting of press personnel amid mounting civilian casualties has amplified calls for justice and accountability.
Media freedom groups echoed Guterres’ stance. Reporters Without Borders denounced the strike as a blatant attempt to silence journalists, while the International Federation of Journalists warned that such attacks endanger the ability to report independently and safely .
The incident has prompted a wave of international condemnation. France’s President Emmanuel Macron called the Gaza military campaign a potential “disaster,” urging a UN-stabilisation mission to prevent further escalation . Meanwhile, the UN Security Council convened an emergency session to address mounting humanitarian concerns and media protection in the region.
As investigations and diplomatic pressures intensify, the UN chief’s call for transparency adds to a global demand for credible accountability processes and stronger protections for journalists covering the conflict.
NAN
