Human rights lawyers have called on the United Nations and the International Criminal Court (ICC) to launch a formal investigation into the assassination of Saleh al-Jafarawi, a renowned Palestinian journalist and social media personality who was recently killed in the Gaza Strip.

For the past two years, al-Jafarawi has been a prominent voice in the coverage of the Israeli war on Gaza, documenting atrocities and exposing war crimes to international audiences. His reporting became widely recognized for highlighting the human suffering, destruction, and resilience of the Palestinian people.

When the recent ceasefire in Gaza was confirmed, al-Jafarawi shared a heartfelt message from northern Gaza, expressing gratitude to all who stood by the Palestinian cause, from protesters and boycotters to artists, athletes, and activists who amplified Gaza’s voice around the world.

Before his martyrdom at the hands of Israeli collaborators, journalist Saleh Al-Jaafarawi posted on X to celebrate the news of the ceasefire in #Gaza, expressing his appreciation and gratitude to all those who stood with the Strip against the Israeli war over the past two years.… pic.twitter.com/aWfHl5bM5C

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 15, 2025

Sara Segneri, a London-based international criminal and human rights lawyer, announced in a statement on Tuesday that she and her colleagues had filed official complaints to several UN investigative bodies and special rapporteurs, as well as to the ICC, demanding accountability for al-Jafarawi’s murder.

According to Palestinian officials, those behind the targeted killing are members of a Tel Aviv-backed clan associated with the Daghmash family, a group accused of collaborating with Israeli occupation forces in Gaza.

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Segneri described al-Jafarawi as a “brave” and “dedicated” journalist,  and a personal “friend". She said their contact began when he started receiving “threats and false accusations,” noting that social media companies later attempted to “censor and silence him” for documenting “the atrocities in Palestine and reporting on war crimes and other abuses.”

Not a random tragedy 

The lawyer highlighted al-Jafarawi's previous testimonies about kidnapping and torture before his killing, calling the case “a grave injustice that demands accountability at the highest level.”

According to her, the journalist’s assassination was “not a random tragedy, but a targeted attack on a journalist, a young man dedicated to showing the world the truth of Gaza’s suffering.”

“Failing to hold the perpetrators accountable,” Segneri warned, “would send a chilling message that journalists can be hunted and killed with impunity, and that international law is meaningless in the face of raw violence.”

The killing took place even as "Israel" had agreed to implement the first phase of a ceasefire plan intended to end the genocide in Gaza. Rights observers say the Israeli entity began backing armed gangs last year to escalate the aggression and extend the destruction of its campaign against the enclave.

Among these groups, one of the most notorious is reportedly linked to ISIS-affiliated leader Yasser Abu Shabab, a former inmate in Gaza. These clans have been accused of looting humanitarian aid and attacking Palestinians gathered at distribution sites, operations that were supported by the United States and overseen by the Israeli occupation forces.

Read next: 'Generation of journalists in Gaza being wiped out': The Guardian