Al Jazeera Says Five Staff, Including Prominent Reporter, Killed in Israeli Strike on Gaza
The Israeli military confirmed it targeted al-Sharif, describing him as a “terrorist” affiliated with Hamas who “posed as a journalist” and led a militant cell responsible for rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and troops.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Five Al Jazeera staff members, including one of its most prominent correspondents, were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a tent for journalists in Gaza City on Sunday, the Qatar-based network said.
The victims included 28-year-old Anas al-Sharif, a well-known Al Jazeera Arabic reporter who had been extensively covering northern Gaza, along with fellow correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh and cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa.
The Israeli military confirmed it targeted al-Sharif, describing him as a “terrorist” affiliated with Hamas who “posed as a journalist” and led a militant cell responsible for rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and troops.
The strike came outside the main gate of a Gaza City hospital and marked the latest incident in the 22-month Gaza war in which around 200 media workers have been killed, according to press freedom watchdogs.
Al-Sharif was a familiar face on Al Jazeera’s coverage from Gaza, often reporting under heavy bombardment. Hours before his death, he posted on X about “intense, concentrated Israeli bombardment” on Gaza City and shared a video showing nearby strikes.
In July, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) had called for his protection, accusing the Israeli military’s Arabic-language spokesperson of escalating online attacks against him. Following Sunday’s strike, CPJ said it was “appalled” and condemned Israel’s practice of labelling journalists as militants without providing evidence, stressing that “journalists are civilians and must never be targeted.”
The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate called the incident a “bloody crime” of assassination.
Israel and Al Jazeera have long had strained relations, with the network banned in Israel and its offices raided since the war began. Qatar, which funds Al Jazeera, has hosted Hamas political leaders and served as a venue for indirect talks with Israel.
