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Al Jazeera Journalist Anas Al Sharif Killed in Gaza Airstrike, Rights Groups Condemn Targeting of Media
Prominent Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al Sharif, once threatened by Israel, killed with colleagues in Gaza airstrike. Rights groups call it a grave breach of international law.
ND
by News Desk
2025-08-11
Al Jazeera Journalist Anas Al Sharif Killed in Gaza Airstrike, Rights Groups Condemn Targeting of Media

A prominent Al Jazeera journalist, Anas Al Sharif, 28, was killed along with four colleagues in an Israeli airstrike on Sunday near Al Shifa Hospital in eastern Gaza City. The attack, which also claimed the life of a freelance reporter, has been condemned globally by journalists, rights organizations, and political leaders.

Israel’s military claimed Al Sharif headed a Hamas militant cell and played a role in rocket attacks on Israel, but offered no public evidence. Al Jazeera rejected the allegations, describing the strike as a “desperate attempt to silence voices” documenting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Before his death, Al Sharif had publicly denied Israel’s claims.

The slain journalists—Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and an assistant—were covering the ongoing conflict when the tent they were in was hit. Freelance reporter Mohammad Al-Khaldi was also killed. Gaza health officials reported two additional civilian deaths in the same strike.

The U.N. human rights office called the incident a “grave breach of international humanitarian law.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed deep concern over repeated journalist casualties in Gaza.

Friends, colleagues, and relatives gathered at Sheikh Radwan Cemetery to mourn the journalists, remembering Al Sharif as “one of Gaza’s bravest voices.” He was part of a Reuters team that won a Pulitzer Prize in 2024 for breaking news photography covering the Israel-Hamas war.

Since October 7, 2023, the Gaza government media office reports 238 journalists killed, while the Committee to Protect Journalists confirms at least 186. Al Sharif had previously been named on an Israeli list accusing Gaza reporters of militant ties—a claim the U.N. Special Rapporteur and press freedom groups say lacked evidence.

Just minutes before his death, Al Sharif posted on X about heavy bombardments in Gaza City. A pre-recorded message left by him read: “I never hesitated to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or misrepresentation, hoping that God would witness those who remained silent.”

Hamas says the killing signals a possible new Israeli offensive. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to dismantle Hamas strongholds amid a worsening hunger crisis in Gaza, now in its 22nd month of war.

 
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