Gaza, Aug 11: Anas Al Sharif, a correspondent for Al Jazeera Arabic, and four other journalists were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City late Sunday, the Qatari broadcaster confirmed. The attack occurred near the main gate of al-Shifa Hospital, where several media personnel were stationed.
According to Al Jazeera, an official from Shifa Hospital stated that seven people died in total during the strike, which targeted a tent outside the hospital.
The Israeli military stated that Al Sharif was killed in an airstrike and accused him of leading a Hamas terrorist cell responsible for orchestrating rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and troops.
“Anas Al Sharif served as the head of a terrorist cell in the Hamas terrorist organisation and was responsible for advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops,” the Israeli military said in a statement.
Al Jazeera confirmed the deaths of correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh, camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa, as well as their assistant Mohammed Noufal, in the same strike.
Just before the fatal strike, Al Sharif posted on X describing the escalating bombardment in Gaza Cityâs eastern and southern areas. In his last recorded video, the thunderous sound of missile strikes fills the background, with the night sky intermittently lit by flashes of orange.
His translated message read: “Non-stop bombing For the past two hours, the Israeli aggression on Gaza City has intensified.”
Palestinian journalist groups condemned the killings, describing them as a grave blow to press freedom amid the conflict.
A UN expert had earlier warned that Al Sharifâs life was at risk due to his frontline reporting from Gaza. UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan last month criticised Israelâs claims against Al Sharif as “unsubstantiated.”
In July, the Committee to Protect Journalists called on the international community to protect Al Sharif.
Since the war began in October 2023 war in Gaza, Israel has accused Palestinian journalists of having ties to Hamas.
The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
Since then, over 61,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks, according to Gaza health officials.