GAZA CITY, Palestine

Hamas urged the international community to take decisive action against Israel's targeting of journalists in Gaza, as another five correspondents were killed in the enclave on Saturday.

In a statement, it condemned the "massacre" perpetrated by Israeli forces, accusing them of disregarding international laws that safeguard journalists and enable them to work in conflict zones.

The group also urged journalists, media professionals, and international media organizations to support Palestinian journalists, provide them with all necessary assistance, and expose Israel's actions.

Earlier in the day, the Gaza media office said five Palestinian journalists were killed across the Gaza Strip in the past few hours, taking the death toll since last October to 158.

Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023 which killed some 1,200 people.

Besides killing more than 38,000 Palestinians since then, the military campaign has turned much of the enclave of 2.3 million people into ruins, leaving most civilians homeless and at risk of famine.

Journalists in Gaza face particularly high risks as they try to cover the conflict during Israeli air and ground assault, disrupted communications, supply shortages, and extensive power outages.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi