A group of 17 U.S. senators has written to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, condemning an Israeli airstrike that killed several Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza last week. They urged Washington to pressure Israel to protect reporters and allow foreign media into the besieged territory.
The letter, released on Wednesday, was led by Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz and signed by 16 others, including Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Tim Kaine of Virginia, and Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an independent who works with the Democrats.
US Senators Condemn Journalist Killings and Seek Accountability
The senators’ move comes after an Israeli strike killed four Palestinian journalists: Al Jazeera correspondents Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh, and cameramen Ibrahim Zaher and Mohammed Noufal. Their deaths have fueled global outrage. According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, Israel has killed 238 journalists in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
In their letter, the senators strongly questioned Israel’s justification for the attack. “Israel has not provided convincing evidence for its claim that al-Sharif was a Hamas militant,” they wrote. “Without a clear military objective, this looks like Israel admitting it deliberately targeted journalists, which would violate international law.”
They also asked the Trump administration for more details about the State Department’s knowledge of the strike. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said U.S. officials had discussed the incident with Israel, but repeated Israel’s unverified claim that al-Sharif may have had Hamas ties.
Senators Demand Media Access and Protection of Journalists
Al Jazeera rejected those allegations, accusing Israel of fabricating evidence and carrying out a “campaign of incitement” against its reporters. The network has demanded accountability for what it calls systematic targeting of journalists.
The senators’ letter warned that “banning and censoring media organizations and targeting members of the press is unacceptable and must stop.” They urged the U.S. to press Israel to ensure journalist safety and allow international reporters to enter Gaza.
Currently, Palestinian journalists are the only ones covering Israel’s ongoing war in the Strip. Israel has barred foreign reporters from entering Gaza, despite calls from press freedom groups for open access.
The senators concluded that unrestricted and immediate access for international media is essential to ensure accurate reporting on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
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