(MENAFN) Al Jazeera has strongly condemned Israel’s targeted killing of its journalists in the Gaza Strip, labeling the act “a desperate attempt to silence voices ahead of the invasion of Gaza.”

The Qatar-based news organization released the statement after an Israeli strike hit a journalists’ tent near Gaza City’s Al-Shifa Hospital, killing five journalists, including Al Jazeera reporters Anas Al-Sharif and Mohamed Qraiqea.

"The responsibility for this attack lies entirely with the Israeli army and government," Al Jazeera declared.

Their statement highlighted ongoing calls by various Israeli officials urging attacks specifically on Al-Sharif and his team.

“Anas Al-Sharif was one of the bravest journalists documenting the starvation imposed by the occupying Israeli forces on the people of Gaza. Silencing voices as part of the Gaza invasion plan is a desperate attempt," the statement added.

This deadly strike took place amid Israel’s 22-month campaign that Al Jazeera describes as genocide, following a recent Israeli government announcement of plans to occupy Gaza.

Israel itself acknowledged the assault was a “deliberate and despicable act directly targeting the journalists' tent.”

Al Jazeera called this attack a clear, calculated assault on press freedom. "The goal is to prevent the last remaining voices in Gaza from sharing the true tragedy with the world.”

“Telling the truth has become a threat in Israel’s eyes," the statement emphasized.

The network also dismissed the Israeli military’s official explanations as falsehoods designed to mask their actions.

Al Jazeera firmly rejected Israel’s allegations that Al-Sharif was a “Hamas cell leader” or involved in plotting rocket attacks, noting that Al-Sharif had repeatedly affirmed his role as an impartial journalist with no political ties.

In condemning Israel’s threats against the press, the statement said: “Telling the truth has become a threat in the eyes of Israel, especially in Gaza, where people are fighting hunger.”

Al Jazeera warned that failing to hold Israel accountable emboldens further atrocities by the occupying forces and called on the international community to intervene immediately.

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