Germany calls for investigation into killing of journalists in Israel-Palestine conflict

By Anadolu staff

BERLIN (AA) - Germany on Friday expressed concern over increased attacks targeting journalists in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.

“We of course very much regret it when journalists become victims of this war, and we of course support in every way possible the investigation of what happened there,” deputy government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann told a news conference in Berlin.

“This should be done comprehensively, and I assume that the Israeli authorities will also do this,” she added.

Hoffmann made the remarks in response to a question by Anadolu on the increased harassment of journalists by Israeli security forces, and the killing of at least 87 journalists and media workers since Oct. 7.

Speaking at the same news conference, German Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Kathrin Deschauer urged authorities to respect freedom of press and allow journalists to do their work.

“Freedom of the press is an exceptionally important value that must be guaranteed, even under very difficult circumstances. The investigation of such incidents, which we very much regret, is also very important for us,” she said.

Al Jazeera correspondent Wael Al-Dahdouah was wounded on Friday by shrapnel during an Israeli airstrike on the city of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip.

Also on Friday, Anadolu photojournalist Mustafa Alkharouf was assaulted by Israeli forces while covering a Palestinian gathering near Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Israeli police, who set up barricades in the area, first pulled out their weapons at Alkharouf, and then threw him on the ground, beating and kicking him.

He suffered severe blows resulting in injuries to his face and body and was transported by ambulance to the Makassed Hospital in occupied East Jerusalem.