The Israel Defense Forces said it killed a journalist on Sunday, Aug. 10, and claimed he headed a Hamas cell. Reuters reported Anas Al-Sharif, along with three photojournalists, were found dead following a strike on Gaza City.
A total of seven people reportedly died in the blast.
“The terrorist Anas Al-Sharif served as a cell leader in the Hamas terror organization and advanced plans for rocket fire against Israeli civilians and IDF forces,” the Israeli military said in a statement.
In October of 2023, the IDF published documents it reportedly seized in Gaza. The military said the documents showed active Al Jazeera reporters are operatives in the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror groups. Al-Sharif was among those on the list. According to the Times of Israel, an Israeli court found a “close connection” between the news outlet and Hamas.
At the time of the documents’ release, Al Jazeera said it “views these fabricated accusations as a blatant attempt to silence the few remaining journalists in the region, thereby obscuring the harsh realities of the war from audiences worldwide.” On Sunday, Aug. 10, Al Jazeera confirmed Al-Sharif’s death, along with his three fellow journalists: Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Zaher and Mohammed Noufal.
Moments before he was killed, Al-Sharif posted on X about “Relentless bombing.”
“For two hours, the Israeli aggression on Gaza City has intensified,” he said.
The Committee to Protect Journalists collects data on members of the media killed while performing their job. Since the Israel-Hamas war started on October 2023, more than 186 journalists have been killed, CPJ said, with at least 180 of them being Palestinian. Al Jazeera said the Government Media Office in Gaza confirmed the total number of journalists killed by Israel since the start of the war is 237 people.
“Israel’s pattern of labeling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence raises serious questions about its intent and respect for press freedom,” CPJ Regional Director Sara Qudah said in a statement. “Journalists are civilians and must never be targeted. Those responsible for these killings must be held accountable.”
Earlier on Sunday, Aug. 10, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin defended his plan to take over Gaza, despite growing international opposition to a military offensive, as well as protests in his own country. Speaking to the media before a United Nations Security Council meeting on the Middle East, Netanyahu said Israel has “no choice” but to “finish the job” and “defeat” Hamas.
