A devastating Israeli airstrike outside Gaza City’s al-Shifa Hospital late Sunday evening claimed the lives of seven people, including five Al Jazeera journalists.
Gatekeepers News reports that the targeted attack, condemned by the broadcaster and press freedom organisations, resulted in the deaths of prominent reporter Anas al-Sharif, correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh, and camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa.
Al-Sharif, who had previously expressed fears for his life, had accused the Israeli military of a campaign against him.
In a poignant message written on April 6, to be published in the event of his death, al-Sharif expressed the pain and loss he had endured, as well as his sorrow for leaving behind his wife, Bayan, and their children, Salah and Sham.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) claimed al-Sharif was the head of a Hamas terrorist cell, but Al Jazeera and press freedom organizations have vehemently denied these allegations.
“The order to kill Anas and his colleagues is a desperate attempt to silence the voices exposing the impending seizure and occupation of Gaza,” Al Jazeera said.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the attack, stating, “Journalists are civilians and must never be targeted. Those responsible for these killings must be held accountable.”
Since the war began in October 2023, CPJ reported 186 journalists killed in the Israel-Gaza conflict, with at least 178 being Palestinians.
