Media workers and activists in the US capital of Washington, DC, held a vigil on Monday for Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif, who was killed late on Sunday along with his colleagues by a targeted Israeli strike in eastern Gaza City.
The memorial service for al-Sharif and other slain media workers was held outside the offices of US media organisations such as CNN, MSNBC and others.
Activists placed images of the slain journalists along with flowers, candles and placards which read "RIP Ethics and Principles," "RIP Western Morality," and "US media manufactures consent for Israel’s crimes" in a message directed at the outlets for their pro-Israel coverage throughout 22 months of a genocidal Israeli onslaught on Gaza.
Press helmets and jackets drenched with fake blood and shattered cameras were also displayed during the vigil, in reference to the number of Palestinian journalists killed by Israel as they report from the frontlines during the war.
The number of media professionals killed has now risen to 238, according to the Gaza government media office.
"We are here tonight precisely because Israel assassinated and killed a group of journalists. This is a war crime and a crime against humanity," activist Hazami Barmada, coordinator of the Gaza Media Camp, told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, The New Arab's sister site.
On Sunday, Israeli strikes targeting journalists' tents in the vicinity of the Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City killed correspondents Anas al-Sharif, Mohammed Qreiqeh, and Mohammed Al-Khalidi as well as cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Momin Aliwa.
Al-Sharif was widely regarded as one of "the voices of Gaza," due to his extensive reporting from the frontlines and refusal to evacuate northern Gaza, despite Israeli orders and threats.
The incident has been decried globally. Journalists, rights groups and some politicians labelled the attack as a targeted assassination aimed at silencing Palestinian journalism in the enclave.
The activists also protested Israel's starvation campaign in the Gaza Strip. They held up pictures of malnourished children and signs which read: "Israel did this," and "The silence of the American media and its distortion of the truth contribute to the killing of children and genocide".
The hunger and malnutrition crisis has so far killed 202 people, including 101 children.
Similar vigils were held in the Dutch city of The Hague and outside the BBC building in London. The British Palestinian community will also hold a memorial for the slain journalists outside Palestine House for three days, starting on Tuesday.
Amnesty condemnation, UN demands probe
An outpouring of grief and condemnation followed the killing of al-Sharif. Top human rights organisation Amnesty International said the deliberate incident constitutes a war crime under international law.
Mohamed Duar, Amnesty International's Occupied Palestinian Territory Spokesperson, said on Monday:
"We at Amnesty International are devastated and heartbroken. Words cannot capture our grief at the cruelty of deliberately targeting journalists. Anas dedicated his life to standing before the camera, exposing Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians, and documenting the truth so the world could bear witness."
Duar continued: "Despite Israeli Forces killing his father, bombing his house and continual threats to his life, Anas was unwavering in his commitment and duty to his people. Israel isn’t just assassinating journalists but attacking journalism itself by preventing the documentation of genocide."
In its statement, Amnesty hailed Gaza’s "courageous and brave" journalists for reporting on Israel’s war crimes despite being present in the "most dangerous conditions on Earth".
"No journalist should ever be targeted or killed simply for carrying out their work. Israel must not be allowed to deliberately attack and kill journalists with impunity. Justice must be served for these brave journalists and their family members," Duar added.
Amnesty also called out Israel for smearing al-Sharif as a "Hamas operative". Al Jazeera and al-Sharif denied the claims throughout the war.
The global human rights organisation said Israel's "claims made about al-Sharif are entirely unsubstantiated and without evidence".
"It follows a pattern of similar claims and threats."
Meanwhile, the UN’s Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has urged a probe into the Al Jazeera journalists.
On Monday, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric confirmed Guterres' call "for an independent and impartial investigation" into the deadly incident.
"The Secretary-General underscores that journalists and media workers must be respected, they must be protected and they must be allowed to carry out their work freely, free from fear and free from harassment," Dujarric stressed.