Five Al Jazeera Journalists Killed in Gaza Strike Amid Press Freedom Outcry
Late Sunday evening, a tent set up for journalists outside Gaza City’s Al-Shifa Hospital was struck by an Israeli airstrike, killing five members of Al Jazeera’s team. Among them was Anas al-Sharif, a prominent 28-year-old correspondent known for his extensive reporting from northern Gaza. Also killed were fellow correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh and cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa. According to Al Jazeera, the journalists had been stationed at the hospital’s main gate, away from active combat zones, when the targeted strike occurred.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) quickly confirmed it had intentionally targeted al-Sharif, alleging that he headed a Hamas cell and had been involved in planning and advancing rocket attacks. Israeli officials claimed they possessed “unequivocal proof” of his military ties, citing intelligence and documents. However, Al Jazeera strongly rejected these claims, calling them fabricated and part of a longstanding campaign to discredit Palestinian journalists. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) expressed outrage, noting that Israel has frequently accused slain reporters of militancy without presenting credible evidence.
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In the hours before his death, al-Sharif had been posting updates on social media about the “nonstop bombing” in Gaza City, even recording video as explosions lit up the night sky. A final message, prepared to be shared if he were killed, spoke of the deep grief and loss he had endured while continuing to report the truth. He expressed sorrow for leaving behind his wife and two young children, vowing that his work had always been about conveying reality “without distortion or misrepresentation.”
Al Jazeera’s managing editor, Mohamed Moawad, described al-Sharif as “the only voice” for the outside world to understand the reality in Gaza, stressing that the reporters were targeted deliberately to silence coverage. The network condemned the killings as a “blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom” and called on the international community to intervene, warning that the lack of accountability was emboldening further attacks on journalists.
Rights groups, including the United Nations, have previously warned that journalists in Gaza face extraordinary danger, with many killed under what they call unsubstantiated allegations of Hamas affiliation. According to the CPJ, more than 200 journalists have been killed since Israel began its military campaign in Gaza in October 2023. Those who remain face not only bombardment but also the threat of starvation, as aid restrictions continue to devastate civilian life.
For Al Jazeera, the deaths mark yet another devastating chapter in its coverage of the conflict. Since the war began, ten of its staff have been killed, several in incidents the network insists were deliberate. This latest strike has further intensified the debate over press freedom in war zones, as the voices documenting events on the ground grow fewer—and the risks of speaking out grow deadlier.
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