The commissioner-general of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has condemned ‘Israel’ after the deaths of five Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza, saying the Israeli military is continuing to silence those reporting on atrocities in the besieged territory.
Philippe Lazzarini, in a post on X on Monday, expressed horror at the killings of correspondents Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh, cameramen Ibrahim Zaher and Moamen Aliwa, and their assistant Mohammed Noufal. Lazzarini said more than 200 Palestinian journalists have been reported killed since the war began, “with total impunity.”
“The Israeli Army continues to silence voices reporting atrocities from #Gaza.
I am horrified by the killing of another 5 journalists in Gaza city.
Since the war began, more than 200 Palestinian journalists have been reported killed in total impunity.
Israel is also blocking… pic.twitter.com/i2CTwnErcg
— UNRWA (@UNRWA) August 11, 2025
He also accused ‘Israel’ of blocking the access of international journalists to report independently since the conflict began nearly two years ago, and urged authorities to protect journalists and allow international media into Gaza. “Journalists must be protected and international media must get into Gaza to support the heroic work of their Palestinian colleagues,” Lazzarini wrote, adding that this is necessary “to counter disinformation and prevent doubts about the scale of atrocities committed in Gaza.”
Britain’s prime minister, Keir Starmer, echoed concern about the targeting of reporters following the strike that killed the five Al Jazeera staff. A spokesperson for Starmer told reporters: “We are gravely concerned by the repeated targeting of journalists in Gaza. Reporters covering conflicts are afforded protection under international humanitarian law, and journalists must be able to report independently, without fear, and Israel must ensure journalists can carry out their work safely.”
According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, the Israeli army targeted a journalists’ tent near al-Shifa Hospital in western Gaza City late on Sunday, killing the five Al Jazeera staff. The Gaza government condemned what it called “Israel’s systematic assassination of Palestinian reporters in Gaza” and urged human rights and media organizations to denounce the attacks.
The Gaza health ministry reports that, since October 7, 2023, some 61,499 Palestinians have been killed—mostly women and children—and another 153,575 injured in the ongoing Israeli aggression. The deaths of the five journalists add to long-standing international concerns about the safety of media workers and access for independent reporting in the territory.
Source: Agencies (translated and edited by Al-Manar English Website)
