GENEVA

The UN special rapporteur on freedom of expression on Thursday condemned what she described as serious threats and smear campaigns by the Israeli army against Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al-Sharif, warning they are part of a broader effort to "silence reporting on the genocide in Gaza."

"I am deeply alarmed by repeated threats and accusations of the Israeli army against Anas Al-Sharif, the last surviving journalist of Al Jazeera in northern Gaza," said Irene Khan.

"Fears for Al-Sharif’s safety are well-founded as there is growing evidence that journalists in Gaza have been targeted and killed by the Israeli army on the basis of unsubstantiated claims that they were Hamas terrorists," Khan said.

The rapporteur voiced concern that the Israeli military has "repeatedly accused Al Sharif and other Palestinian journalists of being terrorists or supporters of Hamas" without offering any proof.

"On the one hand, Israel refuses to allow any international journalists to enter Gaza, and on the other, it ruthlessly smears, threatens, obstructs, targets and kills the few local journalists remaining as the only eyes of the outside world on the ongoing genocide," Khan said.

She added that Israel's actions, including "killings, attacks, arbitrary detention and harassment of Palestinian journalists and the destruction of press facilities," are part of a "deliberate strategy … to suppress the truth" and hinder future accountability.

Calling on governments to act, she urged states "who pride themselves on being champions of media freedom and safety for journalists, not to remain silent."

"I urge them to use their diplomatic channels to stop Israel from targeting Anas Al-Sharif and other journalists in Gaza who are only doing their job of telling the truth to the world," the rapporteur said, noting she is in contact with the Israeli government on the matter.

The Israeli army has pursued a brutal offensive on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, killing over 60,200 Palestinians. The relentless bombardment has devastated the enclave and led to food shortages.

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.