EU condemns killing of Al Jazeera journalist in Gaza Strip

The European Union has condemned the killing of Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif and four other employees of the broadcaster by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip.

“We take note of the Israeli allegation that the group was Hamas terrorists, but there is a need in these cases to provide clear evidence, in the respect of rule of law, to avoid targeting of journalists,” EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said.

According to Al Jazeera, Israel’s military killed five of its employees during an airstrike in the Gaza Strip. Al-Sharif and his colleagues died in a targeted attack on a tent for journalists in Gaza City in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

Israel’s military confirmed al-Sharif’s death, stating that the 28-year-old posed as an Al Jazeera journalist while leading a terrorist cell for the Palestinian militant organization Hamas.

Reporters Without Borders reported that a freelance journalist was also killed, bringing the total number of deaths to six.

Following a video conference with EU foreign ministers, Kallas urged increased support for the suffering people in the blockaded Gaza Strip.

“Whereas there is more aid coming in, the needs are still much greater. We urge Israel to allow more trucks and a better distribution of aid,” Kallas said.