Anas Al-Sharif, a 28-year-old Palestinian journalist working for Al Jazeera, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on August 10, 2025, in Gaza City. The strike also killed four of his colleagues: Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa. Al-Sharif’s nephew was also among the victims.
Circumstances of Death
- The airstrike targeted a media tent outside Al-Shifa Hospital, where Al-Sharif and his team were sheltering.
- Israel’s military admitted to the strike, claiming Al-Sharif was a Hamas operative who “posed as a journalist”.
- Al Jazeera and press freedom groups rejected this claim, accusing Israel of attempting to suppress coverage of its military actions.
Reactions and Condemnation
- Al Jazeera condemned the strike as a “premeditated assassination” and accused Israel of trying to silence voices reporting on the conflict.
- The Palestinian mission to the UN accused Israel of “deliberately assassinating” Al-Sharif and Qreiqeh.
- Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza.
- The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) have also spoken out against the killing, highlighting the dangers faced by journalists in Gaza ¹ ².
Impact on Journalism and Free Speech
- The killing of Al-Sharif and his colleagues has sparked widespread outrage and concern about the safety of journalists in conflict zones.
- The incident highlights the challenges faced by journalists in reporting on the conflict in Gaza, where over 200 journalists have been killed since October 2023.
- Press freedom groups have called for an independent investigation into the strike and for those responsible to be held accountable ¹.
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