On August 10, 2025, an Israeli airstrike near Gaza City’s Al-Shifa Hospital killed Anas al-Sharif, a respected correspondent for Al Jazeera Arabic, along with four of his colleagues. The strike targeted a makeshift tent used by journalists—underlining the constant peril faced by media professionals in conflict zones.
Israeli military claims that al-Sharif was more than a reporter. They labeled him a Hamas cell commander, alleging he orchestrated rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and troops and using Gaza-based "rosters, training lists, and salary records" as evidence.
In stark contrast, Al Jazeera, press freedom groups, and a UN expert—all emphasized the absence of credible proof for such claims. Al Jazeera condemned the strike as a "premeditated attack on press freedom," while the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan warned that accusing journalists of terrorism without evidence dangerously edges toward silencing them.
Just minutes before the strike, al-Sharif posted on X (formerly Twitter) about an intense Israeli assault on Gaza City, urging the world not to forget Gaza. His poignant final message, penned earlier and released posthumously, affirmed his commitment: “I never hesitated to convey the truth as it is … hoping that God would witness those who remained silent.”
Human rights advocates note that the Israel-led Gaza war has already claimed the lives of 200+ journalists, with al-Sharif and his colleagues among many local reporters risking—and often losing—their lives to document the unfolding reality.
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