Five Al Jazeera journalists, including correspondent Anas
al-Sharif, were killed in a targeted Israeli airstrike on a press tent near
al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. The strike has sparked widespread international
condemnation, with media organizations and human rights advocates denouncing it
as a deliberate attack on press freedom and calling for accountability.
Targeted Israeli airstrike kills five Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza
As reported by Shayan Sardarizadeh of BBC News, an Israeliairstrike targeted a tent housing journalists near the main gate of al-Shifa
Hospital in Gaza City, killing five Al Jazeera staff members. The victims
included prominent correspondent Anas al-Sharif, Mohammed Qreiqeh, and camera
operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa. Two additional
individuals also lost their lives in the strike, bringing the total casualties
to seven.
Details of the strike and Israeli claims
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), as reported by
both NBC News and Reuters, the airstrike was aimed at Anas al-Sharif, whom they
claimed was the leader of a terrorist cell within Hamas and responsible for
orchestrating rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and military personnel. The
IDF asserted that al-Sharif was masquerading as a journalist, justifying the
precision strike after gathering intelligence and taking measures to minimize
civilian casualties. However, Al Jazeera and independent observers have
strongly disputed these allegations, affirming that al-Sharif was a genuine
journalist who had persistently covered events in northern Gaza.
Al Jazeera’s response
The Al Jazeera Media Network swiftly condemned the strike as a "targeted assassination,"calling it a
"blatant and premeditated assault on press freedom."
The network described the attack as a desperate attempt to silence journalists revealing the imminent occupation and devastating consequences of the Israeli offensive in Gaza. The media outlet highlighted al-Sharif’s significant role as a frontline reporter who risked his life to document Israel's military actions and their impact on Palestinians.
International outrage and calls for justice
Amnesty International Australia mourned the loss of the Al
Jazeera journalists, including the renowned human rights defender Anas
al-Sharif, who had previously received their Human Rights Defender Award for
bravery. Mohamed Duar, Amnesty’s spokesperson for the occupied Palestinian
territory, called the killings war crimes and lamented the deliberate targeting
of journalists, emphasising the crucial role they played in exposing the truth
about the ongoing conflict.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), represented by
regional director Sara Qudah, expressed shock and condemned the Israeli
military’s practice of labelling journalists as militants without credible
evidence, underscoring that journalists are civilians and must not be targeted.
CPJ's CEO, Jodie Ginsberg, reminded that Israel had previously accused
al-Sharif and colleagues of terrorism without proof in a campaign that
foreshadowed this lethal strike.
Mike Balsamo, president of the US National Press Club,
condemned the killings as a profound loss felt beyond a single newsroom,
demanding a thorough and transparent investigation to protect journalists
globally. Similarly, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) denounced
the assassinations, characterising them as part of a documented policy to
silence media voices amid what it described as genocide in Gaza.
Broader context: Israel’s Gaza offensive and media environment
The strike on Al Jazeera’s journalists occurred amid
Israel’s broader military campaign aiming to take control of Gaza City, a move
that has drawn international criticism due to its severe humanitarian
consequences. As detailed by Al Jazeera and other news outlets, the ongoing
Israeli offensive has resulted in mass civilian casualties, widespread
displacement, and a humanitarian crisis aggravated by food shortages.
Since the start of the October 2023 conflict, over 269
journalists and media personnel have been killed in Gaza, marking this as one
of the deadliest times for journalists globally. Al Jazeera has accused the
Israeli military of a sustained campaign of incitement and targeting against
its reporters to undermine independent coverage of the war.
Eyewitness accounts and visual evidence
BBC Verify independently confirmed disturbing videos showing the immediate aftermath of the airstrike, where colleagues and rescuers are seen carrying the injured and deceased journalists from the bombed tent near al-Shifa Hospital. Voices can be heard calling out the names of the victims, including Mohammed Qreiqeh and Anas al-Sharif, whose death was later affirmed by friends via a pre-scheduled post on social media.
The killing of five Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza has
highlighted the extreme perils faced by media workers reporting from conflict
zones and intensified scrutiny on Israeli military operations. The incident has
prompted widespread calls from international organisations, press freedom
advocates, and human rights groups for accountability, protection of
journalists, and an end to attacks that target media professionals. These
tragic deaths underscore the urgent need for all parties in conflict zones to uphold
international laws protecting press freedom and civilian lives.