JERUSALEM, Aug 11 – A deadly Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Sunday has killed a well-known Al Jazeera journalist, Anas Al Sharif, along with four of his colleagues, in an incident drawing strong condemnation from international rights groups, press freedom advocates, and the United Nations. The strike targeted a tent near Al Shifa Hospital in eastern Gaza City, where the journalists were reportedly covering the latest escalation. Israel’s military alleges that Al Sharif was linked to Hamas and involved in directing rocket attacks, a claim firmly denied by Al Jazeera and previously rejected by the journalist himself.
Claims and Counterclaims
Al Jazeera hailed Al Sharif as one of the most courageous journalists in Gaza, accusing Israel of trying to silence the last remaining voices reporting from the blockaded region. The network stated that the attack was a deliberate attempt to stop coverage ahead of what it called “the occupation of Gaza.”
The 28-year-old reporter was among five Al Jazeera media workers killed in the airstrike, which also took the lives of Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and an assistant. Medical staff at Al Shifa Hospital later confirmed that freelance reporter Mohammad Al-Khaldi was also among the dead. Two other civilians were reported killed in the same strike.
The Qatari Prime Minister condemned the attack, stating that the intentional targeting of journalists represents an act “beyond imagination.” The United Nations human rights office labeled the strike a serious violation of international humanitarian law, noting that it came amid some of the heaviest bombardments Gaza had seen in weeks. Images circulated on social media showed flattened tents and bullet-marked walls in the area where the journalists had been sheltering.
The British Prime Minister expressed deep concern over repeated strikes on journalists in Gaza, stressing that such actions undermine press freedom in conflict zones.
Israel’s military alleged that Al Sharif held a senior position within Hamas and had a hand in directing rocket launches aimed at both civilians and military forces in Israel. Officials said intelligence and documents recovered in Gaza supported these allegations but did not present the evidence publicly. Avichay Adraee, a spokesperson for the Israeli military, posted on social media what he said were undated pictures of Al Sharif appearing with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and other senior members of the group. The authenticity of these images has not been independently verified, and it remains unclear under what circumstances they were taken.
Mourning and Legacy
Hundreds of mourners assembled at Sheikh Radwan Cemetery in Gaza City on Monday, gathering to honor the journalists who had lost their lives. Friends, relatives, and fellow reporters wept as they paid their respects, remembering Al Sharif’s courage and dedication to his work.
Al Sharif had been recognized internationally for his reporting, previously contributing to award-winning coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict. His death marks another grim milestone in what has become the deadliest conflict for journalists since records began.
Gaza’s government media office said that 238 journalists have been killed since the fighting first broke out on October 7, 2023. The Committee to Protect Journalists reports at least 186 confirmed journalist deaths in the ongoing conflict. In July, both a United Nations expert and a press freedom organization had warned that Al Sharif was at serious risk due to his frontline reporting. UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan said there was no substantiated evidence for Israel’s previous claims against him.
Al Jazeera revealed that Al Sharif had recorded a message to be shared in the event of his death. In it, he vowed never to distort the truth and expressed hope that “God would witness those who remained silent.”
Israel’s military had named him months earlier as one of several Gaza journalists it accused of being members of Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad, citing documents that allegedly listed individuals who completed military training and received salaries. Al Jazeera has categorically rejected these claims, calling them fabrications intended to justify attacks on the press.
The Committee to Protect Journalists reiterated that Israel has provided no proof to support its accusations against Al Sharif, urging the global community to act in defense of reporters in conflict zones.
Minutes before the airstrike, Al Sharif posted on social media platform X that Gaza City had been under intense bombardment for over two hours. His final message became a chilling record of the peril faced by those documenting the war from inside the territory.
Hamas issued a statement warning that the killing of journalists signaled the possible start of a large-scale Israeli offensive in Gaza. The group accused Israel of paving the way for “a major crime” by eliminating key voices who could expose its military actions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously vowed to dismantle Hamas strongholds in Gaza, a region now facing worsening humanitarian conditions, including an escalating hunger crisis after nearly two years of war.