Anas al-Sharif Killing: Israeli Strike on Al Jazeera Journalists Sparks Global Outrage
The death of Anas al-Sharif, a well-known Al Jazeera journalist, has shocked the world. He was killed along with four of his colleagues in what many describe as a targeted Israeli strike in Gaza City.
This deadly attack happened outside al-Shifa Hospital, where a group of journalists had set up a tent to cover the ongoing war. The strike left seven people dead, including six journalists, and injured others.
The Attack at Al-Shifa Hospital
On Sunday night, a drone strike hit a media tent outside the main gate of al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. The location was known to be a gathering point for journalists reporting on the conflict.
Those killed included:
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Anas al-Sharif, senior Al Jazeera correspondent
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Mohammed Qreiqeh, Al Jazeera reporter
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Ibrahim Zaher, cameraman
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Mohammed Noufal, cameraman
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Moamen Aliwa, cameraman
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Mohammad al-Khaldi, local freelance reporter
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) confirmed the deaths and expressed deep concern over the growing number of journalists killed in Gaza.
Israel’s Statement and Controversy
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) admitted they carried out the strike but claimed Anas al-Sharif was a Hamas militant. They accused him of leading a terrorist cell and organizing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians.
Israel said they had documents and intelligence to support this claim. However, human rights groups and press freedom organizations called the accusation unsubstantiated and part of a pattern where journalists are labeled as militants after being killed.
Reactions from Around the World
Al Jazeera’s Response
The Al Jazeera Media Network strongly condemned the strike, calling it a “targeted assassination” and a blatant attack on press freedom. They said the journalists were reporting from a safe zone and were deliberately targeted to silence voices documenting the war.
United Nations
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres offered condolences and called for a full investigation. The UN Human Rights Office said the attack violated international humanitarian law, stressing that journalists must be protected in conflict zones.
Palestine
The Palestinian mission to the UN accused Israel of assassinating two of Gaza’s last remaining reporters. They said these journalists had documented Israel’s actions in Gaza and were killed to stop the truth from reaching the world.
Iran
The Iranian Foreign Ministry urged the global community to hold Israel accountable. They said a press badge should protect journalists, not make them targets.
Al-Sharif’s Final Moments
Just hours before his death, Anas al-Sharif posted on X (formerly Twitter) about the “intense bombardment” in Gaza. He had been covering the war from its most dangerous areas and was known for his fearless frontline reporting.
In an earlier interview with the Committee to Protect Journalists, al-Sharif admitted he lived with the constant fear of being killed, but he refused to stop reporting. He had already lost his father in an Israeli airstrike in 2023 but chose to remain in northern Gaza to continue his work.
A Pattern of Targeting Journalists
This is not the first time Al Jazeera journalists have been killed in Gaza. Since October 2023, Israel has been accused of deliberately targeting media workers.
Notable cases include:
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Hossam Shabat, killed in March
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Ismail al-Ghoul and cameraman Rami al-Rifi, killed in August
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Samer Abu Daqqa, killed weeks after Al Jazeera’s Wael al-Dahdouh lost several family members in an airstrike
According to Gaza’s government media office, 237 journalists have been killed since the war began. The CPJ confirms at least 186 journalist deaths in the same period.
Starvation and Hardship for Gaza Journalists
Apart from the danger of airstrikes, journalists in Gaza are also struggling to survive. Many face food shortages and sometimes go days without eating.
The BBC, along with Reuters, AFP, and AP, recently warned that Gaza reporters are at risk of starvation due to the blockade on humanitarian aid.
The Global Call for Accountability
Press freedom groups, UN officials, and governments around the world are calling for an independent investigation into the Anas al-Sharif killing and the deaths of his colleagues.
The CPJ insists that journalists are civilians and should never be targeted, regardless of the conflict. They stress that those responsible must face justice.
Why This Story Matters
The killing of Anas al-Sharif is not just a tragedy for his family and colleagues — it is also a blow to press freedom. With foreign journalists banned from Gaza, local reporters like al-Sharif are the world’s only window into the war.
Silencing them means silencing the truth.