The Israeli military announced that it had killed Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif in Gaza, Reuters and the Associated Press reported, quoted by BTA.
The journalist is accused by the Israeli military of leading a Hamas terror cell and being responsible for rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and the Israeli military, the Israeli forces said in a statement.
Al Jazeera television also announced the journalist's death, explaining that he was killed in Gaza City. The journalist, along with other journalists and their team, were in their tent when the strike was carried out.
In addition, the media outlet said that a total of five of its journalists were killed in the Israeli strike targeting the journalists' tent - in addition to Al-Sharif, two correspondents and two cameramen, Agence France-Presse reported.
The 28-year-old journalist Al-Sharif was one of Al-Jazeera's most prominent figures covering the events in the Gaza Strip. Last month, the Committee to Protect Journalists said it was seriously concerned about Al-Sharif's safety, who "was the target of a smear campaign by the Israeli military."
The Israeli army decided in May 2024 to ban Al-Jazeera from broadcasting in Israel and to close its offices there. The Israeli army has repeatedly accused journalists from this media outlet of being terrorist agents in Gaza, linked to “Hamas“.
Yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he had ordered the army to allow as many international journalists as possible to work under the control of the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip, Agence France-Presse recalls.
Israel has come under fire from the UN Security Council over its planned military operation in the Gaza Strip, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
“We condemn the decision of the Israeli government to expand its military operation in Gaza“, said five European countries attending the UN Security Council meeting on Israel's plans for Gaza.
"We call on Israel to urgently change its decision and not to "applies," said Slovenian Permanent Representative to the UN Samuel Žbogar.
"We reiterate that any attempt to annex or expand Israeli settlements violates international law," he added. "Expanding the military operation will only endanger the lives of all civilians in Gaza, including the remaining hostages," Žbogar added.
The Israeli security cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, decided on Friday that the military should seize Gaza City, possibly with the aim of taking control of the entire Gaza Strip, DPA noted.
During the UN Security Council meeting on the issue, the United States sided with Israel. US Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea said the meeting was being wrongly used as an occasion to accuse Israel of "genocide". The American representative described these accusations against Israel as politically motivated and categorically false and said that it was a propaganda campaign by “Hamas“.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed new Israeli plans for an offensive in Gaza by phone with US President Donald Trump, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA, citing a statement from Netanyahu's office.
"The two discussed Israel's plans to take control of the remaining bastions of “Hamas“ in Gaza in order to end the war and achieve the release of the hostages and the defeat of “Hamas“, the statement said.
The Irish rock band “You Too“ has sharply criticized the Israeli government for its plans for Gaza, DPA reported, quoted by BTA. But the group also condemned “Hamas“.
In a post on the group's social media accounts, frontman Bono said: “The government of Israel is not the Israeli people, but the government of Israel, headed by Benjamin Netanyahu today, deserves our categorical and unequivocal condemnation“. He criticized the blockade of humanitarian aid and Israel's plans for a military takeover of Gaza City.
“We know that “Hamas“ is using hunger as a weapon in this war, but now Israel is doing the same and I am disgusted by this moral failure,” he added.
Bono also condemned “Hamas“ for the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, emphasizing that “Hamas“ fighters should not be equated with the Palestinian people, who “have suffered and continue to suffer for decades of marginalization, oppression, occupation and the systematic theft of the land that rightfully belongs to them”.
Bono and the other members of the group “You Too” Adam Clayton, The Edge and Larry Mullen Jr. called for an immediate cessation of hostilities on both sides of the conflict.
"Saving lives is the choice that must be made in this war," Clayton said.
Bono called on the Israeli public to demand unfettered access for professionals to provide urgently needed medical care in Gaza and the West Bank and to allow more trucks of humanitarian aid to pass through.
The Edge said: "There is no peace without justice. There is no reconciliation without recognition. And there is no future unless we allow the past to repeat itself."
"You Too" announced that they had made a donation to support the British humanitarian organization “Medical Aid for the Palestinians“.
Mullen Jr. said in the publication: “The power to change this disgrace lies in the hands of Israel. I support Israel's right to exist without a doubt and I also believe that the Palestinians deserve the same right and their own state. Silence does not benefit any of us.“
On Friday, Israel's security cabinet approved a military takeover of Gaza City, raising international concerns about the humanitarian risks. A few hours later, Germany suspended arms shipments to Israel, and EU Council President Antonio Costa warned that these Israeli plans could strain EU-Israel relations.
It is estimated that there are over one million civilians in Gaza City.