Gaza: 5 Al Jazeera Journalists Killed in Israeli Strike

On Sunday, 10th August, Al Jazeera reported that five of its journalists were killed in an Israeli missile strike in Gaza. Among the victims was a well-known reporter the network’s viewers recognized. The Israeli military confirmed targeting him, calling him a “terrorist.”

The incident occurred as Israel pushes forward with its new military operation in the devastated and starving Palestinian territory, which has been under 22 months of conflict.

Al Jazeera described the attack as a “likely targeted strike” on a tent used by its journalists in Gaza City, near Al Chifa Hospital.

The victims are identified as correspondents Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh, along with cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa.

Their deaths bring the total number of journalists killed in the ongoing war to nearly 200, according to Reporters Without Borders. The conflict was triggered by a deadly attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

Anas al-Sharif, 28, was a prominent journalist covering the Gaza conflict daily. The Israeli military acknowledged targeting him, claiming he was a “terrorist” posing as a journalist.

They stated he led a Hamas cell responsible for planning rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers, a claim shared via Telegram.

In his last messages posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, al-Sharif reported heavy Israeli bombardments across Gaza and shared a short video showing strikes on Gaza City.

An emotional farewell note he wrote in April, should he die, was published Monday morning. In it, he urged the world to “not forget Gaza.”

In July, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) accused Israel of a “smear campaign,” claiming the military falsely labeled him a Hamas member online.

Sara Qudah, the CPJ’s regional director, criticized Israel for repeatedly calling journalists “militants” without credible evidence, questioning its respect for press freedom.

She emphasized that journalists are civilians and should never be targeted. She called for accountability for those responsible for these killings.

Since May 2024, Israel has banned Al Jazeera from operating within the country and ordered its offices to close.

This move is part of a long-standing conflict between the network and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, which intensified during the current Gaza war.

Israeli authorities have repeatedly accused Al Jazeera journalists of being “terrorist agents” linked to Hamas.

International media face severe restrictions in Gaza. Most foreign journalists cannot work freely, with only select media outlets embedded with the Israeli military, where their reports are heavily censored. Many local journalists have paid a heavy price, risking their lives to cover the conflict.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced on Sunday that he has authorized the military to allow more international journalists to operate in Gaza under Israeli oversight.

He also defended the new military plan, which aims to capture Gaza’s city and has been described by Netanyahu as the “best way to end the war.”

He faces intense pressure domestically, over the 49 hostages still held by Hamas, and internationally, to stop the violence.

Gaza’s densely populated territory, home to over two million Palestinians, faces a looming “widespread famine,” according to the UN.

Netanyahu assured that the plan includes safe passages for civilians to leave combat zones and be relocated to designated safe areas.

These zones will be supplied with plenty of food, water, and medical care. He also promised to establish “protected corridors,” increase aid distribution through the US and Israeli-supported Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF), and conduct aerial drops of supplies.

During an emergency UN Security Council meeting, UN Deputy Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca warned that these military plans could trigger “another catastrophe” with serious regional consequences.

Since the conflict began, Israeli forces have reported the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, following Hamas’s attack on October 7.

Israeli retaliatory strikes in Gaza have resulted in over 61,430 deaths, mostly civilians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which is considered reliable by the UN.

© Agence France-Presse

• Source: Defi Media