WAN-Ifra’s World Editors Forum has denounced the targeted killing of Palestinian journalist Anas Al-Sharif and four others in Gaza on Sunday, urging immediate and unhindered access for reporters to the conflict zone.

Al-Sharif, a prominent Palestinian journalist, was killed in an Israeli Defence Forces strike. The IDF has admitted to the killing, claiming to have “unequivocal proof” of his affiliation with Hamas – an allegation strongly denied by Al Jazeera and Al-Sharif himself, in a recent CPJ interview.

“We condemn the targeted killings of these broadcast journalists who, despite facing insurmountable odds, continued to get the story out.

“Telling stories should not be a death sentence,” said WEF president David Walmsley, who is editor-in-chief of the Globe and Mail.

The group called for more journalists to be allowed into Gaza without restriction or threat to continue reporting.

Al Jazeera says seven people were killed in the attack on a tent located outside the main gate of Gaza City’s al-Shifa hospital late on Sunday evening. The news outlet named the other slain correspondents as Mohammed Qreiqeh; cameramen Ibrahim Zaher and Moamen Aliwa, and their assistant Mohammed Noufal. A local freelance reporter, Mohammad al-Khaldi, was also killed, according to Reuters.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 186 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza as of 5 August.

Pictured (from left): Anas al-Sharif, Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, Moamen Aliwa and Mohammed Qreiqeh (pictures Al Jazeera)