DaysofPal- The Norwegian Foreign Minister, Espen Barth Eide, has strongly condemned the recent Israeli killing of Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza, calling it “outrageous and completely unacceptable.”
The Israeli attack, which targeted a journalists’ tent at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, resulted in the deaths of five journalists, including correspondents Anas Al-Sharif and Mohammed Qariqa, photojournalists Ibrahim Zaher and Moamen Aliwa, and the crew’s driver Mohammed Nofal.
Highlighting that over 238 journalists and media professionals have been killed by Israeli forces since the start of the Israeli genocide, the minister Eide emphasized that Gaza has become the most dangerous place in the world for journalists.
International bodies stressed that these Israeli killings form part of a deliberate Israeli strategy aimed at concealing its war crimes, particularly the systematic starvation and mass extermination of Palestinian civilians.
The minister underscored the critical role journalists play during armed conflicts in gathering and sharing information, stressing that they must be fully protected under international law.
Targeting media workers not only suppresses press freedom but also prevents the truth from reaching the global community, worsening the suffering of civilians and obstructing efforts to expose violations and hold perpetrators accountable.
He held the Israeli occupation fully responsible for these violations and urged the international community to take urgent measures to protect journalists in conflict zones and halt the repeated assassinations targeting them.
The statements come amid the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza, which has entered its 675th day, leaving tens of thousands of Palestinians dead and many more missing or detained. Israeli forces continue to bombard civilian areas, including homes and displacement camps, while maintaining a blockade that causes severe food shortages and widespread hunger.
The minister’s remarks align with growing international calls for the Israeli occupation to stop its violations against civilians and journalists and to allow free access for media to report on the humanitarian crisis.
Human rights groups warn that silencing the media is part of a broader campaign to keep Israeli atrocities hidden from the world.
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