Israel has killed 246 journalists in besieged Palestinian enclave of Gaza since October 2023
Pakistan and India on Wednesday decried the killing of journalists by Israel in Gaza, calling it “heinous” and “shocking.”
The statements from Islamabad and New Delhi came in response to the Israeli attack on the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, which left at least 47 Palestinians, including six journalists, dead on Monday, triggering global outcry.
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry, in a statement, described the attack as “unconscionable and heinous,” and said the continued targeting of civilians and journalists represents a grave violation of international human rights and humanitarian law, as well as freedom of the press.
Pakistan reiterates its call on the international community to “hold Israel accountable for such heinous crimes and to take concrete steps towards ending Israel’s impunity,” the statement said.
India also said the killing of journalists in Gaza was “shocking and deeply regrettable,” condemning the loss of civilian lives in the conflict.
"The killing of journalists is shocking and deeply regrettable. India has always condemned loss of civilian lives in conflict,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement.
He added: “We understand that the Israeli authorities have already instituted an investigation.”
The new fatalities among the media personnel in Gaza brought the number of Palestinian journalists killed in Israeli attacks since October 2023 to 246.
Israel has killed more journalists in any conflict around the world in recent times.
- Pakistan denounces Israeli military actions in Syria
Pakistan also denounced the Israeli military actions in Syria, condemning “in the strongest possible terms the Israeli occupying forces’ incursion into the Syrian Arab Republic in contravention of international law and the UN Charter.”
Islamabad reaffirmed its support for Syria’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, urging global powers to prevent Israel from destabilizing the region.
Israel has killed nearly 63,000 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave, which is facing famine.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
