Israeli Strike in Gaza Kills Five Al Jazeera Journalists, IDF Claims One Was Hamas Operative

A targeted Israeli strike outside Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza resulted in the deaths of at least five Al Jazeera journalists on Sunday. The attack, considered one of the deadliest assaults on media personnel since the start of the Israel-Gaza conflict, claimed the lives of Al Jazeera correspondents Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh, along with camera operators Ibrahim Zaher and Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa. Following the strike, the Israeli Military announced that Anas al-Sharif, was the head of a Hamas terrorist cell and had carried out advanced rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and IDF troops. The IDF stated that intelligence and documents from Gaza, including rosters, terrorist training lists, and salary records, provided evidence of al-Sharif’s integration into Hamas. Al Jazeera Media Network strongly condemned the killings, labeling them as a blatant attack on press freedom and highlighting the catastrophic consequences of the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has confirmed the killing of at least 186 journalists since October 7, 2023. The strike occurred hours after Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu told foreign media he had directed the military to allow more foreign journalists into the Gaza Strip. Moments before his death, Anas al-Sharif reported on the intensifying Israeli aggression in Gaza City. A posthumous post from his social media account stated his belief that Israel had succeeded in silencing his voice.