Palestinians in Gaza gathered on Monday for the funeral of five Al Jazeera staff members and a sixth reporter killed in an Israeli strike targeting reporters in Gaza City.
Dozens stood amid bombed-out buildings in the courtyard of Al-Shifa Hospital to pay their respects to Anas al-Sharif, a prominent Al Jazeera correspondent aged 28, and four of his colleagues, killed on Sunday.
A sixth journalist, Mohammed Al-Khaldi, who worked as a freelance reporter, was also killed in the strike that targeted the Al Jazeera team, according to the director of Al-Shifa Hospital, Dr Mohammed Abu Salmiya.
Their bodies, wrapped in white shrouds with their faces exposed, were carried through narrow alleys to their graves by mourners, including men wearing blue journalists' flak jackets.
Israel confirmed it had targeted Sharif, in an attack that has since been denounced internationally.
Al Jazeera said its employees were hit in a tent set up for journalists outside the main gate of a hospital in Gaza City.
The four other staff members killed were Mohammed Qreiqeh, also a correspondent, and cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa.
Sharif was one of the channel's most recognisable faces working on the ground in Gaza, providing daily reports on the now 22-month-old war.
A posthumous message, written in April in case of his death, was published on his account on Monday morning, saying he had been silenced and urging people "not to forget Gaza".
Al Jazeera called the attack that killed Sharif "a desperate attempt to silence voices exposing the Israeli occupation", as it described Sharif as "one of Gaza's bravest journalists".
It also said it followed "repeated incitement and calls by multiple Israeli officials and spokespersons to target the fearless journalist Anas Al Sharif and his colleagues".
Reporters Without Borders says nearly 200 journalists have been killed in the war on the enclave so far.
International reporters are prevented from travelling to Gaza by Israel, except on occasional, tightly controlled trips with the military.
The strike on the journalists came with criticism mounting over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to expand the war and occupation in the Gaza Strip.
Expanding occupation
The security cabinet voted last week to occupy the remaining quarter or so of the territory not yet controlled by Israeli troops, including much of Gaza City and Al-Mawasi, the area designated a 'safe zone' by Israel, where huge numbers of Palestinians have sought refuge.
The plan, which Israeli media reported had triggered bitter disagreement between the government and military leadership, drew condemnation from protesters in Israel and numerous countries, including Israeli allies.
Notably, the plans caused Germany, a major weapons supplier and staunch ally, to suspend shipments to Israel of any arms that could be used in Gaza.
Australia said on Sunday it would join a growing list of Western nations in recognising a Palestinian state.
The United Nations and humanitarian agencies have condemned the planned expansion.
"If these plans are implemented, they will likely trigger another calamity in Gaza," UN Assistant Secretary General Miroslav Jenca told the Security Council on Sunday.
UN agencies warned last month that famine was unfolding in the territory, with Israel severely restricting the entry of aid after months of completely blocking it.
Israel's offensive has killed at least 61,430 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry.