Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al-Sharif has been killed among four other colleagues in an Israeli airstrike near Gaza City’s Al-Shifa Hospital.
The whole Gaza-based staff of Al Jazeera, including correspondents Al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreigeh and cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa, were in a tent housing journalists when the airstrike happened.
Al-Sharif, 28, was a prominent journalist known for his front line reporting in Northern Gaza.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) claimed Al-Sharif was a “terrorist” who “posed as a journalist”, in an official statement on Telegram.
“Anas Al-Sharif served as the head of a terrorist cell in the Hamas terrorist organization and was responsible for advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops,” the IDF wrote.
For weeks, Israel targeted Al-Sharif claiming he was a Hamas operative, which was denied by the Al Jazeera network.
Muhammed Shehada, an analyst at the Euro-Med Rights Monitor, told Al Jazeera there was “zero evidence” that the journalist took part in any conflict.
“His entire daily routine was standing in front of a camera from morning to evening,” he told Al Jazeera.
In a public statement, the Qatari media network denounced the killings.
“Al Jazeera Media Network condemns in the strongest terms the targeted assassination of its correspondents by the Israeli occupation forces in yet another blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom,” they posted.
“Al Jazeera bids farewell to yet another group of its finest journalists, who boldly and courageously documented the plight of Gaza and its people since the onset of the war.”
Shortly before his death, Al-Sharif took to X with his final message.
“If these words reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice. First, peace be upon you and Allah’s mercy and blessings. Do not forget Gaza and do not forget me in your sincere prayers for forgiveness and acceptance,” he wrote.
“Anas Jamal Al-Sharif 06.04.2025.”
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 186 journalists have been killed since the beginning of Israel-Gaza war.
Photo by Al Jazeera found HERE
