The European Union has strongly denounced the killing of five journalists affiliated with the Qatari news outlet Al Jazeera, who were struck during an Israeli air raid in Gaza.

Following a virtual meeting of EU foreign ministers, High Representative Kaja Kallas posted on X: “The EU condemns the killing of five Al Jazeera journalists in an airstrike near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, including correspondent Anas Al-Sharif.”

She added that the killing of civilians seeking aid in Gaza is indefensible.

While acknowledging the Israeli military’s explanation, Kallas emphasized that such actions “require thorough justification.”

She further warned that the conflict in Gaza is escalating dangerously, stating that the EU’s priorities remain focused on humanitarian aid, ensuring NGO access, securing an immediate ceasefire, and the release of remaining hostages. “If a military solution were viable, this war would have ended already,” she added.

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola also expressed concern on social media, saying, “The killing of journalists in Gaza under Israeli bombardment must end. The international community must intensify efforts to achieve a ceasefire and secure the release of hostages—steps toward lasting peace and stability. Escalation is not the answer.”

Anas Al-Sharif, a 28-year-old journalist from the Jabalia refugee camp and a correspondent for Al Jazeera, was killed in a targeted Israeli strike during the night of August 10–11, 2025. The attack hit a tent used by journalists near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Seven people were killed, including five journalists, raising the death toll of media professionals since the war began in October 2023 to 238.

Among the victims were Al-Sharif, two cameramen, a driver, and freelance photojournalist Mohammed Al-Khalidi, who succumbed to his injuries on August 11. All were reporting on the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza for nearly two years.

Al-Sharif, a husband and father of two, had previously expressed fears for his safety in social media posts, which now serve as a haunting testament to his commitment. In April 2025, he wrote: “These are my final wishes, my last message. If you’re reading this, it means Israel has succeeded in silencing my voice.”

His death stands as a powerful symbol of the bravery and sacrifice of Palestinian journalists who risk everything to expose the truth of a conflict the world must no longer ignore.

The deliberate targeting of journalists is not only a personal tragedy but a direct attack on press freedom and the global right to information. Silencing those who report from the frontlines serves to obscure the harsh realities faced by Palestinians. The systematic killing of media workers deepens the culture of impunity surrounding the ongoing genocide, underscoring the urgent need for international accountability and protection for journalists in conflict zones.

Source: EU Reporter. (2025, August 15). EU condemns killing of journalists from Al Jazeera, IDF accuses one of them of leading a Hamas ‘terrorist cell’. EU Reporter. https://www.eureporter.co/world/israel/2025/08/15/eu-condemns-killing-of-journalists-from-al-jazeera-idf-accuses-one-of-them-of-leading-a-hamas-terrorist-cell/