UN Secretary-General Calls Independent Probe Israeli Gaza Airstrike Killing Journalists

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the killing of six Palestinian journalists, including five from Al Jazeera, in an Israeli airstrike near al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City and called for an independent and impartial investigation into the incident. UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric emphasized the extreme risks journalists face in the ongoing conflict, noting that at least 242 Palestinian journalists have been killed since the war began nearly three years ago. He stressed the importance of respecting and protecting journalists to allow them to work freely without fear or harassment. The conflict has also led to severe humanitarian crises, with over 100 children in Gaza dying from malnutrition since October 2023, and acute malnutrition affecting more than 300,000 children. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization warned that only 1.5% of Gaza's cropland remains accessible and undamaged, signaling a near-total collapse of local food production. Despite aid efforts, including food and hygiene kits crossing into Gaza, the UN calls for a predictable lifeline rather than sporadic aid to prevent desperate survival measures among the population.