Anas Al-Sharif – Al Jazeera journalist killed in Gaza strike
By IDNN International Affairs Desk
Anas Al-Sharif killed in Gaza — a death that has sent shockwaves across global media and reignited accusations that Israel is systematically targeting journalists in the besieged territory.
The 28-year-old Al Jazeera correspondent, widely recognised as the face of Gaza’s war coverage, was among five media workers killed in an overnight Israeli airstrike on a tent clearly marked “Press” at the Al-Shifa Hospital complex. Hospital director Dr. Mohammad Abu Salmiya said at least seven people died in the strike.
From Cameraman to War’s Witness
Little known before October 2023, Al-Sharif rose to prominence after his social media footage of Israeli bombardments in Jabalya went viral. Recruited by Al Jazeera in December that year, he transitioned from cameraman to front-line reporter, often broadcasting live from hospitals, streets, and displacement shelters.
“I have lived through pain in all its details… yet I never once hesitated to convey the truth,” Al-Sharif wrote in a will released after his death.
His father was killed in an earlier airstrike; he leaves behind two young children.
Israel’s Allegations and Rights Groups’ Response
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claim Al-Sharif was a Hamas operative leading rocket attacks. They released photos of him with slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Al-Sharif and UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan had previously denied these allegations.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called the killing “appalling” and part of a “documented pattern” of accusing journalists without credible proof. CPJ says 192 journalists have been killed since the war began — 184 of them Palestinian.
Press Access Still Restricted
Despite announcing foreign press would be allowed into Gaza, Israel continues to require military escorts, limiting independent reporting. International correspondents have not been able to enter freely since the war started.
Global Calls for Accountability
Media watchdogs, rights groups, and diplomats are demanding a transparent investigation. Al Jazeera described the strike as a “deliberate assassination” and vowed to pursue justice in international courts.
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