UN Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned the killing of six Palestinian journalists in Gaza, calling for an independent and impartial investigation into the incident.
The journalists, five of them working for Al Jazeera, were killed on Sunday in what the UN described as a targeted Israeli strike on Gaza City.
“These latest killings point to the extreme dangers journalists face in covering this war,” UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters in New York on Monday.
He noted that at least 242 media workers have been killed in Gaza since the conflict erupted nearly two years ago.
“The Secretary-General states that journalists must be respected, protected, and allowed to work freely, without fear or harassment,” Dujarric added.
The attack comes as humanitarian agencies warn of a deepening crisis in Gaza. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that more than 100 children have died from malnutrition since October 2023, with over 300,000 at severe risk.
The World Food Programme says more than one-third of Gaza’s population goes days without eating, and only 1.5% of the enclave’s cropland remains accessible and undamaged.
Aid deliveries remain severely constrained. While food and hygiene kits were collected at the Kerem Shalom crossing last week, OCHA said many supplies were seized before reaching their intended destinations due to what it described as “extreme desperation.”
The WFP estimates that Gaza requires more than 62,000 metric tonnes of food per month to meet basic needs, yet deliveries fall far short.
Fuel shortages are also crippling essential services, with Israel allowing in about 150,000 litres per day, well below the minimum required, according to UN agencies.
The Palestine Civil Defence has warned that more than half of its ambulances are out of service due to the lack of fuel and spare parts.
“Israeli authorities must enable large-scale aid through all crossings and safe corridors to reach the most vulnerable, women, children, and older people, with dignity,” OCHA said.
