The killing of Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif and four of his colleagues in an Israeli airstrike near Shifa Hospital in Gaza City has triggered worldwide condemnation and renewed calls for press protection.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday, comes amid growing concerns over the safety of journalists covering the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
Gaza health officials and Al Jazeera reported that an Israeli missile struck a tent housing journalists outside the hospital’s main gate.
The attack also claimed the lives of Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Zaher, and Mohammed Noufal, along with two other civilians.
The Qatar-based broadcaster said al-Sharif, 28, had been previously threatened by Israel. “Anas al-Sharif has been killed alongside four colleagues in a targeted Israeli attack on a tent housing journalists in Gaza City,” the network stated.
Al-Sharif was widely recognized as one of Gaza’s most fearless reporters.
Before joining Al Jazeera, he worked with Reuters and was part of the photography team that won the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography.
His reporting often took him to the heart of destruction immediately after strikes, capturing raw testimonies from those most affected.
Al Jazeera described him as “one of Gaza’s bravest journalists” and said he left a message to be shared in case of his death, stating he had “never hesitated to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or misrepresentation.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) alleged that al-Sharif was “responsible for advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops” and led a Hamas cell.
They cited intelligence documents allegedly linking him to Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
Both Al Jazeera and al-Sharif had dismissed these claims as baseless.
Press freedom groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), have repeatedly criticized Israel for accusing reporters of militancy without presenting credible evidence.
“Israel’s pattern of labeling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence raises serious questions about its intent and respect for press freedom,” said CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa Director Sara Qudah.
Germany has called for a “full and transparent” explanation from Israel, describing the killing of journalists as “absolutely unacceptable” under international humanitarian law.
The UN human rights office condemned the deaths, calling them a “grave breach of international humanitarian law” and urging Israel to protect all civilians, including media workers.
The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate labeled the killing a “bloody crime” and accused Israel of attempting to silence critical voices.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) warned that such attacks contribute to an “information blackout” in parts of Gaza.
According to Gaza’s media office, 238 journalists have been killed since the war began in October 2023, making it the deadliest conflict for media workers ever recorded, as confirmed by Brown University’s Costs of War project.
Al Jazeera has urged the international community to hold Israel accountable, calling the strike “a desperate attempt to silence voices in anticipation of the occupation of Gaza.”
