French President Emmanuel Macron and the United Nations have sharply criticized Israel’s recent actions in Gaza, as the Israeli military prepares for a major offensive on Gaza City amid a new wave of deadly bombardments.

Macron warned that expanding the military operation would be “an impending disaster” and called on Israel to immediately halt its assault and agree to a permanent ceasefire. He also proposed the creation of an international coalition, under UN leadership, to stabilize Gaza and combat terrorism. The French leader’s stance comes as he moves towards officially recognizing Palestine in September, placing him in direct political opposition to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also condemned what it described as the “killing by Israeli forces of six Palestinian journalists” overnight in Gaza. According to its statement, five of the victims were working for the Al Jazeera network when the strike hit the location where they were gathered, an act the UN says constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law.

A sixth victim, a freelance journalist collaborating with local outlets, was also killed in the same strike. The UN reiterated that Israel must respect and protect all civilians, including journalists, and noted that at least 242 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023. It also renewed its call for immediate, safe, and unhindered access for media to the territory.

Among those killed was 28-year-old Anas al-Sharif, a well-known correspondent who had been reporting daily from Gaza. The Israeli military claimed he was a “terrorist” posing as a journalist. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned the killing “with shock and outrage,” describing al-Sharif as “a voice for the suffering inflicted on Palestinians in Gaza.”