Five Al Jazeera journalists were killed late on Sunday in what the network has described as a deliberate, targeted Israeli strike on a tent outside the main gate of Gaza City’s al-Shifa Hospital.
The attack killed well-known journalist Anas al-Sharif, along with Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh and camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwan. Mohammed al-Khaldi, a freelance reporter, was also killed in the attack.
Shortly before being killed, al-Sharif wrote on X that “for the past two hours, the Israeli aggression on Gaza City has intensified.”
Al Jazeera Media Network condemned the killing as “another blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom.” The statement further stated that the attack “comes amid the catastrophic consequences of the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza, which has seen the relentless slaughter of civilians, forced starvation, and the obliteration of entire communities.” The network added, “The order to assassinate Anas Al Sharif, one of Gaza’s bravest journalists and his colleagues, is a desperate attempt to silence the voices exposing the impending seizure and occupation of Gaza.”
The network called on the international community and all relevant organisations to “take decisive measures to halt this ongoing genocide and end the deliberate targeting of journalists.” It further continued that “the immunity for perpetrators and the lack of accountability embolden Israel’s actions and encourage further oppression against witnesses to the truth.”
Israel has killed 270 journalists in Gaza since October 2023. According to a report by the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs’ Cost of War project, more journalists have been killed in Gaza than both world wars, the Vietnam War, the wars in Yugoslavia, and the United States' war in Afghanistan combined.
“Journalists and media workers must be respected, they must be protected and they must be allowed to carry out their work freely, free from fear and free from harassment,” said spokesperson Stephane Dujarric on behalf of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
The head of UNRWA condemned the attack on X, writing that the “Israeli Army continues to silence voices reporting atrocities from Gaza.” He further continued, “Israel is also blocking access of international journalists to report independently since the war began nearly two years ago. Journalists must be protected and international media must get into Gaza to support the heroic work of their Palestinian colleagues. This is the only way to counter disinformation and prevent doubts about the scale of atrocities committed in Gaza.”
The attack was also condemned by multiple media and human rights organisations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
