A group of Senate Democrats on Wednesday urged U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to press the government of Israel to protect journalists in Gaza and allow international media to access the war-torn territory.
“Israel has not provided convincing evidence for its claim that al-Sharif was a Hamas militant,” the senators wrote. “Absent a compelling explanation of the military objective for this attack, it appears Israel is publicly admitting to targeting and killing journalists who have shown the world the scale of suffering in Gaza, which would be a violation of international law.”
The senators also expressed concern about Israel’s repression of journalists in other areas of conflict like the West Bank, Lebanon and Syria.
“The United States must make it clear to Israel that banning and censoring media organizations and targeting or threatening members of the press is unacceptable and must stop,” they said. “The absence of U.S. government support for accountability efforts serves to undermines U.S. moral leadership and credibility in the region and around the world.”
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters last week that the department discussed the matter of al-Sharif’s killing with Israel, echoing its government’s claim that he and other Palestinian reporters may have been Hamas fighters in disguise.
“We refer you to Israel,” Bruce said. “Israel has released evidence al-Sharif was part of Hamas and was supportive of the Hamas attack on October 7. They’re the ones who have the evidence.”
The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned al-Sharif’s death.
“If Israel can kill the most prominent Gazan journalist, then it can kill anyone,” Sara Qudah, Middle East and North Africa CPJ regional director, said in a statement. “The world needs to see these deadly attacks on journalists inside Gaza, as well as its censorship of journalists in Israel and the West Bank, for what they are: a deliberate and systematic attempt to cover up Israel’s actions.”
Palestinians are experiencing unprecedented starvation and more than a million are facing more displacement because of Israeli military plans.
President Donald Trump last month acknowledged that Gazans are experiencing “real starvation,” but he has largely stuck by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as his government prepares to take control of Gaza City.
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On Tuesday, Trump went so far as to call Netanyahu ― and himself ― a “war hero” for approving airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
