UN demands Israel investigate deadly Gaza hospital strike, ensure accountable results. Gaza's health system teeters on collapse amid relentless attacks.
The announcement was made the day after an Israeli "double-tap" attack on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis killed five journalists, out of an estimated two dozen people killed on Monday.
"We haven't seen results or accountability measures yet. We have yet to see the results of these investigations, and we call for accountability and justice,"
UN human rights office spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan told reporters in Geneva on Tuesday.
The attack was one of the bloodiest of many Israeli strikeson hospitals and media people during the nearly two-year genocidal war on Gaza. It targeted reporters for Al Jazeera, Reuters, the Associated Press (AP), and other news organizations.
The large number of media professionals slain in the conflict "raises many, many questions about the targeting of journalists," according to the UN human rights spokesperson.
According to al-Kheetan, Israel's almost 22-month-long assault on the besieged strip has resulted in the deaths of at least 247 Palestinian journalists in Gaza, including numerous documented examples of targeted strikes.
"It's of course the responsibility of Israel, as the occupying power, to investigate - but these investigations need to yield results,"
he stressed.
International organizations and a number of nations have condemned Israel's strike on the Gaza hospital on Monday, sparking growing outrage.
In the meantime, Reuters and the Associated Press have urged Tel Aviv to carry out a thorough and open investigation of its strike against journalists performing their jobs.
The two major news outlets demanded a detailed explanation from Israel for its targeting of journalists in a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of Military Affairs Israel Katz, and other high-ranking officials.
“We are outraged that independent journalists were among the victims of this strike on the hospital, a location that is protected under international law.”
Israel's inability to uphold its duties under international law to protect journalists and civilians was a source of worry for both organizations.
“Striking a hospital, followed by a second strike while journalists and rescuers were responding, raises urgent questions about whether these obligations were upheld,”
the letter read.
Reuters contributor Moaz Abu Taha, Al Jazeera photographer Mohammad Salama, AP freelancer Mariam Dagga, and cameraman Hussam Al-Masri were all murdered in the attack. Ahmed Abu Aziz, a fifth journalist who was employed by the Quds Feed Network and other media organizations, passed away from his wounds.
Because of their lack of transparency and previous inability to provide accountability and action, rights organizations and media outlets have expressed doubts about the validity of Israel's internal investigations.
"Serious questions, including whether Israel is deliberately targeting live feeds in order to suppress information,"
the groups argued, were raised by this.
The press organizations reaffirmed their demand that Israel grant independent journalists unhindered, safe access to Gaza.
They called on the Tel Aviv government to defend and allow freedom of the press.
“We are doing everything we can to keep our journalists in Gaza safe as they continue to deliver crucial eyewitness reporting under extremely dangerous conditions,”
the letter stated.
More Palestinians are being killed and injured as a result of Israel's ceaseless artillery and air assault on Gaza.
Over 158,600 people have been injured and over 62,800 people have died as a result of the US-Israeli genocide.
What specific procedures the UN wants Israel to include in its probe?
The inquiry must be free of political pressure or interference, possibly requiring international observers or experts in order to reflect transparency and credibility. Analyzing all physical and testimonial evidence, as well as a forensic analysis of the strike site for information regarding when and to whom the attacks were directed and the consequences of the airstrikes.
Assess whether the attack violated the legal protections afforded to civilian life and property, medical establishments and facilities, and journalists and media personnel, to ascertain if violations of the Geneva Conventions and other international law treaties were committed.
Determine not only who the direct actors were, but also investigate the command structure and decision-makers - from those who ordered the strike, to those who executed the strike.