An Israeli airstrike has killed seven people, including five Al Jazeera journalists, outside the main gate of Gaza City’s al-Shifa Hospital. The broadcaster called the attack, which happened late Sunday evening, a “targeted” strike.
Anas al-Sharif, a prominent reporter, was among the casualties. The other journalists killed were Mohammed Qreiqeh, a correspondent, and camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa.
Al-Sharif’s death comes just over a year after an Israeli airstrike killed his 65-year-old father when it hit his family home in the Jabalia refugee camp. The journalist had repeatedly expressed fears for his life, accusing the Israeli military of a campaign against him.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed that al-Sharif was targeted, claiming he “was the head of a Hamas terrorist cell”.
In a final message, written on April 6 to be published after his death, al-Sharif said he “lived the pain in all its details” and “tasted grief and loss repeatedly.”
He also expressed sorrow at leaving his wife, Bayan, and not seeing his son, Salah, and daughter, Sham, grow up.
Al Jazeera condemned the targeted killing of its staff, calling the order to kill al-Sharif and his colleagues “a desperate attempt to silence the voices exposing the impending seizure and occupation of Gaza.”
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) expressed its dismay at the attack, stating that Israel had failed to provide any evidence to support its claims against al-Sharif. “Journalists are civilians and must never be targeted. Those responsible for these killings must be held accountable,” the CPJ said.
Since the war began in October 2023, the CPJ has reported that 186 journalists have been killed in the Israel-Gaza conflict, with at least 178 of them being Palestinians.