Members of the Left Party in the German Bundestag have strongly condemned the recent deaths of several journalists in the Gaza Strip following Israeli airstrikes.
Lea Reisner, spokesperson for International Relations for the Left Party’s parliamentary group, stated that targeting reporters aims to obstruct the documentation of potential war crimes. She further criticized the German government, alleging it has not only passively observed but actively contributed through continued arms deliveries and justification of Israeli policy, thereby becoming complicit. Reisner asserted that continued support for what she described as a right-wing Israeli policy carries a degree of responsibility for crimes against humanity and violations of international law.
The Left Party is calling for immediate action from Germany, including a halt to all arms exports to Israel, recognition of Palestine and advocacy for the suspension of the EU Association Agreement with Israel. Additionally, Reisner emphasized the need to pressure the Israeli government to lift the blockade on information and humanitarian aid and to guarantee access for international journalists to the Gaza Strip.
Recent Israeli airstrikes on a hospital in southern Gaza resulted in over a dozen fatalities, including four journalists. CNN, citing hospital sources, reported the deceased journalists included a cameraman for Al Jazeera, a media professional working as a contractor for Reuters and a reporter who had been working for the Associated Press and other media outlets throughout the conflict. A freelance journalist was also among those killed.
The Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health stated the initial strike hit the fourth floor of the Nasser Medical Complex on Monday morning, followed by a second strike shortly after. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the attack and the resulting deaths, acknowledging that errors were made during the operation on the hospital and announced an investigation into the incident.
