Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday condemned the killing of five Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza, calling it a “heinous crime” and accusing the Israeli state of attempting to silence the truth through “violence and hatred.”
In a post on X, Priyanka wrote, “The cold-blooded murder of five Al Jazeera journalists is yet another heinous crime committed on Palestinian soil. The immeasurable courage of those who dare to stand for the truth will never be broken by the violence and hatred of the Israeli state. In a world where much of the media is enslaved to power and commerce, these brave souls reminded us of what true journalism is. May they rest in peace.”
On Monday, the National Press Club (NPC) expressed deep concern over the deaths, saying it was “saddened and troubled” by reports from Al Jazeera that its correspondent Anas al-Sharif, 28, was killed when a media tent outside the main gate of al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City was struck.
Al-Sharif, a respected Arabic-language journalist, had reported extensively from northern Gaza during the current conflict. His death adds to the more than 200 journalists reported killed since the war began, the NPC noted.
“The killing of a journalist while working to inform the public is a loss felt far beyond one newsroom,” said NPC President Mike Balsamo. “Journalists must be able to work without being targeted or killed. All parties in conflict zones must honour their obligations under international law to protect reporters and ensure they can carry out their work safely.”
The NPC has called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstances of al-Sharif’s death and reaffirmed its commitment to defending journalists’ safety and independence worldwide.
According to Al Jazeera, the Israeli strike on the media tent outside al-Shifa Hospital also killed correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh, cameraman Ibrahim Zaher, cameraman Moamen Aliwa, and their assistant, Mohammed Noufal. (Agencies)
