The attack is outrageous and totally unacceptable, said the Norwegian foreign minister, recalling that more than 200 journalists and media professionals were killed in Gaza, making the Palestinian enclave ‘the most dangerous place in the world to practice journalism’.

These professionals play a crucial role in the collection and dissemination of information during armed conflicts and should be given special protection, he said.

When journalists are deliberately attacked, it is not only a direct attack on them, but also against freedom of expression itself, said Eide, quoted by the local press.

The Israel Defense Forces had previously confirmed the deliberate attack on Anas al-Sharif, which they described as ‘a Hamas operative infiltrated in al-Jazeera’.

In addition to al-Sharif, correspondent Mohamed Qreiqeh, cameramen Ibrahim Zaher and Moamen Aliwa and their assistant Muhamed Nofal were also killed.

Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that he intends to extend control over the entire Gaza Strip in order to establish a security perimeter and subsequently surrender the enclave to a new civilian government.

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