Germany has called on Israel to provide a clear and transparent explanation following the killing of Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif and four of his colleagues in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City.

The demand came after the Qatar-based broadcaster announced that the journalists were killed when an Israeli airstrike struck a tent used by media workers.

Germany stated, “The killing of media personnel is absolutely inadmissible under international humanitarian law,” a spokesman for the German Foreign Office said on Monday. When such a killing occurs, as it has now, the party responsible must clearly and transparently explain why it was deemed necessary.”

The spokesman emphasised that Israel had yet to provide such an explanation.

If the Israeli military claims the strike targeted a specific individual, he added, it must also account for why five people were killed.

The Israeli military had confirmed the death of al-Sharif, alleging that he was leading a Hamas “terrorist cell” while posing as a journalist.

The German Foreign Office reiterated that journalists must be protected under international law and that any removal of that protection must be thoroughly justified.

“Israel is now expected, from our perspective, to explain itself in the most transparent and comprehensible manner possible,” the spokesman said.

He also stressed the need for reporters in Gaza to be able to carry out their work “freely and safely.’’

(dpa/NAN)