An Israeli strike in Gaza Metropolis Sunday night time killed a distinguished Palestinian journalist for Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera, Anas al-Sharif, whom the Israel Protection Forces has lengthy argued was a Hamas terrorist in command of rocket launching.
Al Jazeera confirmed the 28-year-old’s dying together with fellow journalist Mohammed Qreiqeh and videographers Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa within the strike, which it stated focused a tent close to Shifa Hospital. An official on the hospital stated two different individuals have been additionally killed within the strike.
The incident got here days after Israel authorised a plan to totally conquer Gaza Metropolis and relocate southward round 1 million Palestinians at the moment staying there.
Following Gazan media stories about Sharif’s dying, the IDF confirmed finishing up a strike that killed him, saying he was a “terrorist working beneath the guise of a journalist.”
“The terrorist Anas al-Sharif served as a cell chief within the Hamas terror group and superior plans for rocket hearth towards Israeli civilians and IDF forces,” the navy stated in a press release.
The IDF famous that in October, it printed documents seized in Gaza that it stated “unequivocally” confirmed Sharif’s “navy affiliation with Hamas.”
????STRUCK: Hamas terrorist Anas Al-Sharif, who posed as an Al Jazeera journalist
Al-Sharif was the top of a Hamas terrorist cell and superior rocket assaults on Israeli civilians and IDF troops.
Intelligence and paperwork from Gaza, together with rosters, terrorist coaching lists and… pic.twitter.com/ypFaEYDHse
— Israel Protection Forces (@IDF) August 10, 2025
On the time, the navy stated Sharif headed a rocket-launching squad and was a member of an elite Nukhba Power firm in Hamas’s East Jabalia Battalion.
“These paperwork function proof of the terrorist’s integration into the Qatari Al Jazeera media community,” the IDF stated.
Al Jazeera has fiercely denied Israel’s allegations and accused it of systematically focusing on Al Jazeera workers within the Gaza Strip.
In Sunday’s strike, the navy stated it took steps to mitigate civilian hurt, together with “using precision munitions, aerial surveillance and extra intelligence info.”
Minutes earlier than being killed, Sharif documented Israeli airstrikes in Gaza Metropolis and posted footage to social media.
“Relentless bombing… For 2 hours, the Israeli aggression on Gaza Metropolis has intensified,” he wrote on X.
قصف لا يتوقف…
منذ ساعتين والعدوان الإسرائيلي يشتد على مدينة غزة. pic.twitter.com/yW8PesTkFT— أنس الشريف Anas Al-Sharif (@AnasAlSharif0) August 10, 2025
And shortly after his dying, his X account, which has greater than 500,000 followers, printed a message he had left to be posted within the occasion of his dying that learn, “…I by no means hesitated to convey the reality as it’s, with out distortion or misrepresentation, hoping that God would witness those that remained silent.”
A press freedom group and a UN professional beforehand warned that Al Sharif’s life was at risk as a result of his reporting from Gaza. UN Particular Rapporteur Irene Khan claimed final month that Israel’s allegations towards him have been unsubstantiated.
In a press release, the Committee to Shield Journalists, which in July urged the worldwide neighborhood to guard Al Sharif, stated Israel had failed to offer any proof to again up its allegations towards him.
“Israel’s sample of labeling journalists as militants with out offering credible proof raises critical questions on its intent and respect for press freedom,” stated Sara Qudah, CPJ’s director for the Center East and North Africa.
Calling Al Sharif “one in every of Gaza’s bravest journalists,” Al Jazeera stated the assault “is a determined try to silence voices in anticipation of the occupation of Gaza.”
“Anas Al Sharif and his colleagues have been among the many final remaining voices in Gaza conveying the tragic actuality to the world,” Al Jazeera stated.
Palestinian terror group Hamas, which runs Gaza, stated the killing might sign the beginning of an Israeli offensive. “The assassination of journalists and the intimidation of those that stay paves the best way for a serious crime that the occupation is planning to commit in Gaza Metropolis,” stated Hamas, which itself commonly faces accusations of persecuting adversarial journalists.
The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate condemned what it described as a “bloody crime” of assassination.
Professional-Israel advocates hailed the killing of Sharif and posted photographs he took with since-slain Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, in addition to a screenshot of a Telegram message he posted on October 7, 2023, hailing the murders and kidnappings through the mass Hamas onslaught that day.
That is the “journalist” you’re defending Sangita. https://t.co/fBUrfJwJQd pic.twitter.com/5Ua1QOxawu
— CAMERAorg (@CAMERAorg) August 10, 2025
“A terrorist with a digital camera continues to be a terrorist,” posted Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon. “I commend our safety forces for eliminating the terrorist Anas Jamal Mahmoud Al-Sharif, who operated beneath the guise of an Al Jazeera journalist.”
A terrorist with a digital camera continues to be a terrorist!
I commend our safety forces for eliminating the terrorist Anas Jamal Mahmoud Al-Sharif, who operated beneath the guise of an Al Jazeera journalist. pic.twitter.com/LYGP9tzVHM— Danny Danon ???????? דני דנון (@dannydanon) August 11, 2025
The Hamas-run Gaza authorities media workplace stated 237 journalists have been killed for the reason that warfare began. The Committee to Shield Journalists stated no less than 186 journalists have been killed within the Gaza battle.
Israel has stated it seeks to attenuate civilian fatalities and stresses that Hamas makes use of Gaza’s civilians as human shields, preventing from civilian areas together with houses, hospitals, faculties and mosques.
Israel and Al Jazeera have had a contentious relationship for years, with Israeli authorities banning the staunchly important channel within the nation final 12 months and raiding its workplaces.
Qatar, which partly funds Al Jazeera, has hosted an workplace for the Hamas political management for years and been a frequent venue for oblique talks between Israel and the fear group.
