Washington (Quds News Network)- A group of 17 US senators has urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to pressure Israel to protect journalists in Gaza and to allow media access to the enclave, following the targeted killing of Palestinian journalists covering the ongoing genocide. “The United States must make it clear to Israel that banning and censoring media organisations and targeting or threatening members of the press is unacceptable and must stop,” the Democratic senators said in a statement. “We urge you to press the Israeli government to protect journalists in Gaza and allow international media to access the territory.” On August 10, an Israeli strike killed six journalists, including Al Jazeera well-known correspondent Anas al-Sharif, sparking international outcry. The Israeli military admitted assassinating al-Sharif, claiming, without providing any evidence, that he was leading a Hamas cell. The letter condemned the attack, writing: “Absent a compelling explanation of the military objective for this attack, it appears Israel is publicly admitting to targeting and killing journalists who have shown the world the scale of suffering in Gaza, which would be a violation of international law.” Among the signatories were Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine and 13 other Democratic senators, as well as independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. The letter went on to say that more than 190 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza since the Israeli assault began. “The Vast majority of whom,” the letter asserts, “were Palestinians killed in Gaza by IDF military action.” According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, 239 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Israeli attacks since October 2023. Israel has barred international reporters from entering and reporting in Gaza. “I have no doubt that the prevention of international access, the killings of journalists, the targeting of media facilities, the punishment of [Israeli] outlets like Haaretz is part of a deliberate strategy on the part of Israel to conceal what is happening inside Gaza,” said the CPJ chief executive, Jodie Ginsberg.