Al Jazeera condemns killing of its journalists by Israeli forces in Gaza

Al Jazeera Media Network condemned the "targeted assassination" of its correspondents Anas Al Sharif and Mohammed Qraiqea, along with photographers Ibrahim Al Thaher, and Mohamed Nofal, by the Israeli military in what it called "another blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom".

Al Jazeera said the journalists were targeted by the Israeli military in the tent they were stationed opposite Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza, and the order to assassinate Anas Al Sharif - one of Gaza’s most well-known journalists - and his colleagues, is" a desperate attempt to silence the voices exposing Israel's impending seizure and full occupation of Gaza".

In a statement, the network said: "As Al Jazeera Media Network bids farewell to yet another group of its finest journalists, who boldly and courageously documented the plight of Gaza and its people since the onset of the war, it holds the Israeli occupation forces and government responsible for deliberately targeting and assassinating its journalists.

"This follows repeated incitement and calls by multiple Israeli officials and spokespersons to target the fearless journalist Anas Al Sharif and his colleagues.

"Anas and his colleagues were among the last remaining voices from within Gaza, providing the world with unfiltered, on-the-ground coverage of the devastating realities endured by its people.

"While international media was barred from entering, Al Jazeera journalists remained within besieged Gaza, experiencing the hunger and suffering they documented through their lenses. Through continuous, courageous live coverage, they have delivered searing eyewitness accounts of the horrors unleashed over 22 months of relentless bombing and destruction".

Al Jazeera has been contnuously targeted by Israel, and many of its journalists and/or family members have been targeted and killed including Shireen Abu Akleh, and Wael Al-Dahdouh.