Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for an independent investigation into an Israeli drone strike that killed five Al Jazeera journalists outside al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on Sunday night. The strike, which also claimed at least two other lives, wiped out the network’s Gaza City team and drew sharp criticism from press-freedom groups. Starmer’s spokesman said the government is “gravely concerned” by what appears to be the repeated targeting of reporters and stressed that journalists are protected under international humanitarian law. He added that any Israeli allegation linking the victims to militant activity “should be investigated thoroughly and independently.” Israel’s military said the attack was aimed at Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif, whom it accused—without publicly disclosed evidence—of leading a Hamas cell involved in rocket fire. Al Jazeera and the Committee to Protect Journalists rejected the claim, noting that 186 journalists have been killed since Israel’s offensive began in October 2023. The UN Human Rights Office called the strike a “grave breach of international humanitarian law” and urged Israel to guarantee safe, unhindered access for all media. Press-freedom advocates said the incident underscores a broader pattern of violence that has made Gaza the deadliest conflict zone for journalists on record.