The UN human rights office has called on Israel to ensure accountability after repeated deadly attacks on journalists and hospitals in Gaza.
UN human rights spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan told reporters in Geneva on Tuesday that while Israeli authorities have announced investigations into such incidents, none have yet been completed.
“We call for accountability and justice,” he said.
Al-Kheetan condemned the Israeli military attack on the Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis on Thursday, which also killed five journalists.
“We have witnessed and documented many unacceptable attacks on journalists. Since October 7, 2023, at least 247 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Gaza. These journalists are the eyes and ears of the world and must be protected,” he said.
The spokesman said the killings raised serious questions about the targeting of journalists and stressed that all such incidents must be investigated.
He also stressed that hospitals, like journalists, are protected under international law.
“The Israeli authorities have announced in the past that they will launch investigations into such killings. Of course, as an occupying power, the responsibility for conducting investigations lies with Israel, but these investigations must be completed and justice must be served. So far, we have not seen any outcome or measures of accountability. We call for accountability and justice,” he added.
Israel has killed nearly 63,000 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave, which is facing famine.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case before the International Court of Justice over its military campaign against the enclave.
