The Committee to Protect Journalists has condemned Israel's killing of five journalists, including Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif, saying the country's pattern of labelling journalists as militants without credible evidence raises serious questions about press freedom, Al Jazeera reported on August 11.

The journalists killed were al-Sharif, fellow Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh and cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa.

The CPJ said journalists are civilians and "must never be targeted", calling for those responsible to be "held accountable".

UN special rapporteur on freedom of expression Irene Khan said there is "growing evidence" journalists in Gaza have been "targeted and killed by the Israeli army on the basis of unsubstantiated claims that they were Hamas terrorists".

"On the one hand, Israel refuses to allow any international journalists to enter Gaza, and on the other, it ruthlessly smears, threatens, obstructs, targets and kills the few local journalists remaining as the only eyes of the outside world on the ongoing genocide," Khan said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a directive had been in place for two days instructing the military to bring in foreign journalists, saying he thinks "it can be done" despite security issues.

Israel has previously cited security concerns for not allowing international journalists into Gaza, saying they could be at risk and endanger its military.

Al Jazeera English director Salah Negm said it was "not surprising" that Israel alleges al-Sharif was a member of Hamas, but said "they have not proved anything".

"I have been in journalism for about 40 years... and I saw people covering wars and there were victims, but not deliberate murders like this, and people who commit the murders escape unpunished," Negm said.

Israel claims it has proof that al-Sharif was affiliated with Hamas.