Gaza City, August 11, 2025 : At least five Al Jazeera journalists were killed in an Israeli strike near Gaza City’s Al-Shifa Hospital on Sunday, in one of the deadliest single incidents for media workers since the start of the war in Gaza nearly two years ago. Among the victims were correspondents Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh, along with cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Moamen Aliwa, and Mohammed Noufal, according to the Qatar-based broadcaster.

The journalists were among seven people killed when a tent for the press, located just outside the hospital’s main gate, was struck. Al Jazeera said the attack was deliberate, calling it a targeted strike on its staff. The channel released an emotional statement mourning its colleagues and condemning the incident, with one anchor visibly fighting back tears while delivering the news live.

Shortly after the incident, the Israeli military confirmed responsibility for the strike, saying it had specifically targeted Anas al-Sharif. In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) alleged that al-Sharif “posed as a journalist” and “served as the head of a terrorist cell in Hamas” responsible for planning rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and troops.

Al-Sharif, 28, was one of Al Jazeera Arabic’s most recognisable correspondents in Gaza, known for his frontline coverage from northern Gaza. Moments before his death, he appeared to be reporting on intensified Israeli bombardments in Gaza City. A final message, posted posthumously from his account, read:

“If these words of mine reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice.”

This strike is part of a wider pattern in the 22-month Gaza war, where media watchdogs estimate nearly 200 journalists have been killed. In July, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) had specifically urged protection for al-Sharif, accusing the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson of escalating online attacks against him by alleging terrorist links.

Following the attack, CPJ’s regional director Sara Qudah condemned Israel’s actions:

“Israel’s pattern of labelling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence raises serious questions about its intent and respect for press freedom. Journalists are civilians and must never be targeted.”

The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate also denounced the killings, calling them a “bloody crime” and an act of assassination.

Al-Sharif’s career included extensive coverage of the war’s human toll. He had been reporting on the ground since the earliest days of the conflict, producing daily updates and video reports despite repeated threats. His death comes just hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended launching a new offensive in Gaza during a televised press conference.

The long-standing tensions between Israel and Al Jazeera form the backdrop to the strike. Israeli authorities have banned the channel from operating within the country and have previously raided its offices. Qatar, which funds Al Jazeera, also hosts an office for Hamas’ political leadership and has mediated indirect talks between Israel and Hamas throughout the conflict.

With this latest incident, calls for accountability and independent investigation are intensifying internationally. Rights groups and journalist associations stress that the protection of media workers, guaranteed under international humanitarian law, is being repeatedly violated in Gaza. For Al Jazeera, the deaths of five of its team members mark not just a profound personal loss but also another chapter in the ongoing war on press freedom in conflict zones.