Gaza latest: Israel denounced after killing Al Jazeera journalists in 'premeditated attack on press freedom'

Far-right minister calls for 'large parts' of Gaza to be under Israeli control

Bezalel Smotrich has been speaking to Israeli media this morning.

The far-right finance minister - who is sanctioned by the UK for "repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian civilians" - said Benjamin Netanyahu is not going far enough in his takeover plan of Gaza City.

"My plan is that large parts of Gaza will be under our control and sovereignty, and we can also settle there, because this is the only way to maintain security," Smotrich told broadcaster Kan.

"This is not the prime minister's plan, I am aware."

No credible evidence to Israeli claim against journalist, says rights group chief

As we've been reporting, Israel has claimed one of the journalists it killed last night in Gaza was part of Hamas.

It has not made the same claim for the other four journalists killed in the same attack.

Jodie Ginsberg, the chief executive of the Committee to Protect Journalists, told us the group has yet to see "any credible evidence" to back the claim against Anas al Sharif.

"They've been making this claim for many, many months, most recently in the last couple of weeks following a report that Anas did on starvation in Gaza, in which he cried on air," she told our presenter Wilfred Frost. 

"We've asked for evidence repeatedly from Israel."

Ginsberg said this is a "mechanism to discredit that journalist", to say "they weren't really a journalist, therefore you shouldn't believe anything that they say".

This adds to all the crimes Israel has committed in Gaza, says Al Jazeera

The killing of five Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza is part of Israel's plan to "conceal a further crime".

That's the view of the broadcaster's director of news Salah Ngem, who said the killing is just Israel's latest crime in the territory.

Italy not about to recognise Palestine but world must make Netanyahu 'think clearly', defence minister says

Some remarks from Italy's defence minister to bring you now.

Guido Crosetto described what is happening in Gaza as "unacceptable", warning this isn't "collateral damage" as part of a military operation - but the "pure denial of the law and the founding values of our civilisation".

"We are committed to humanitarian aid, but beyond condemnation, we must now find a way to force Netanyahu to think clearly," he added.

He also said it's "one thing to liberate Gaza from Hamas, another from the Palestinians".

"The former can be called liberation. Expelling a people from their land, however, is quite another, and the term used seems completely inappropriate to me," he said, referring to Netanyahu's use of "liberation".

But that doesn't mean he's about to back calls to recognise a Palestinian state, in line with France, the UK, Canada and now Australia.

"The state doesn't exist, and recognising a non-existent state risks becoming merely a political provocation in a world dying of provocations," he said.

"A path must be built to implement the historic UN resolution on 'two populations, two states', defending Palestine's right to exist and have a state, and Israel's right to live in security.

"This means, at the same time, eradicating Hamas terrorism."

Australia's recognition of Palestinian state 'at odds with US', warns opposition

Not everyone in Australia is on board with the prime minister's pledge to recognise a Palestinian state, least of all the opposition.

Sussan Ley, the leader of the Liberal Party, said in a statement shared on social media the decision "puts Australia at odds with the US".

"The United States will have an essential role to play in brokering a viable peace process and establishing a sustainable Palestinian state," she said.

"It is critical to note that the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that decisions to recognise a Palestinian state ahead of a proper peace process scuttled ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas."

Until today, she added, it has been a "bipartisan position" that the "question of recognising Palestinian statehood should come at the end of the peace negotiation process, not at the start or during it".

Instead, she said the government's decision "does not appear to make the world a safer place" or "expedite the end of the conflict".

Analysis: This is how journalists are silenced - and Israel knows this

The targeted killing of Al Jazeera journalist Anas al Sharif and four other colleagues by the IDF late last night silences more crucial reporting voices from inside Gaza.

The IDF wasted no time in releasing a statement claiming it had "eliminated" al Sharif, calling him a "terrorist" who "posed" as a journalist for Al Jazeera.

The Committee to Protect Journalists warned in July that al Sharif was the victim of an Israeli smear campaign and that they feared for his safety.

The IDF had previously released documents they say proved his involvement with Hamas. No word from them on his colleagues who they also killed. We are chasing.

-SKY NEWS