Death of a High-Profile Correspondent
Anas al-Sharif, a 28-year-old correspondent for Al Jazeera in Gaza, was killed Sunday in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City that also claimed the lives of four other Al Jazeera journalists and two additional people, according to the network. The attack targeted a tent used by media crews, drawing international condemnation from the UN, Qatar, and media freedom organizations.
Israel alleged al-Sharif was leading a Hamas “terrorist cell,” but has released limited evidence. Al Jazeera, press advocacy groups, and the journalist himself had denied the accusation. The BBC reported that al-Sharif had previously worked for a Hamas media unit before the current conflict, but his more recent public commentary included criticism of the group.
Career and Reporting in Conflict
Born in the Jabalia area of northern Gaza, al-Sharif joined Al Jazeera about two years ago and became one of its most visible reporters during the war. He refused evacuation orders and continued covering the situation in Gaza City, often reporting live from areas hit by heavy bombardment.
Married with two young children, al-Sharif was separated from his family for much of the conflict. His father was killed in an Israeli strike in December 2023. Hours before his own death, al-Sharif posted about intensified Israeli bombardments.
Colleagues described him as committed to telling the stories of Gaza’s residents, often working in locations where few journalists dared to go.
Other Victims
The strike also killed correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh, cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa, as well as freelance journalist Mohammed al-Khaldi. According to Al Jazeera, Qreiqeh’s final live report came minutes before the attack.
Israel’s Allegations and Evidence
The Israel Defense Forces claim to have documents proving al-Sharif’s Hamas affiliation, citing personnel lists, training records, and salary data. Screenshots of spreadsheets and phone directories were made public, but media watchdogs including Reporters Without Borders (RSF) have called the claims unsubstantiated.
RSF said the killing was an “extrajudicial execution” and part of a pattern of targeting media professionals. Nearly 200 journalists have been killed in the conflict since October 2023, according to the group.
International Reaction
The Committee to Protect Journalists stated there was no legal justification for the strike under international law unless al-Sharif was actively engaged in combat — a standard they said has not been met by the evidence. Al Jazeera leaders accused Israel of fabricating accusations to deflect from the targeting of journalists.
The incident has drawn comparisons to the 2022 killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Aqla, which the Israeli military said was likely accidental, but which Al Jazeera characterized as deliberate.
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