Starmer ‘gravely concerned’ about targeting of journalists in Gaza
PM calls for killing of Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al Sharif and others by the IDF and claims of his links to Hamas to be 'investigated thoroughly and independently'
Keir Starmer is “gravely concerned” about a repeated targeting of journalists in Gaza, his spokesperson said, as the PM called for the deaths of five people in an Israeli airstrike on Sunday to be “investigated thoroughly and independently.”
Israel said it had targeted and killed prominent Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al Sharif over evidence he had headed a Hamas cell and was involved in the planning of rocket attacks on Israel.
Al Jazeera, funded by the Qatari government, denied the allegation.
Asked about the killing of the five while inside a tent for journalists outside al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on Sunday night, Starmer’s spokesperson told reporters; “We are gravely concerned by the repeated targeting of journalists in Gaza,” Starmer’s spokesperson told reporters.
“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.”
Asked about the claim that Al Sharif was linked to Hamas, Starmer’s spokesperson said: “That should be investigated thoroughly and independently, but we are gravely concerned by the repeated targeting of journalists”.
Sharif is one of Al Jazeera’s most recognisable faces in Gaza. He, and six other people in total were killed in the attack, including the Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh and the camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa, according to the Qatar-based broadcaster.
The IDF admitted targeting Al Sharif and posted on X the evidence it said showed his link to Hamas. Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, said that “A terrorist with a camera is still a terrorist!”
He called Al-Sharif a terrorist operating “under the guise of an Al Jazeera journalist.”
Posts on social media following the October 7th massacre appeared to show Al Sharif describing the terrorists as “heroes.”
In a posthumous message posted on X, Al-Sharif wrote that if this post is up, then “Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice.”
Hamas called his killing “a barbaric crime that surpasses all limits of fascism and criminality.
“The martyr Anas al-Sharif was a model of the free journalist, documenting the crime of starvation and showing the world the scenes of famine imposed by the occupation on our people in Gaza,” the terror group wrote in its statement.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said said at least 186 journalists had been killed in the Gaza conflict. Israel denies deliberately targeting journalists.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
