Israel assassinates 5 Al Jazeera journalists and staff

10 August 2025

As of August 11, 2025, Al Jazeera has confirmed in a live blog update that Israel has claimed responsibility for the assassination of its journalist, Anas al-Sharif, in Gaza. This marks a significant and tragic escalation in the targeting of media workers in the region. The journalists were in a tent designated for journalists outside a hospital’s main gate.

1. Targeted Killing – Israeli forces deliberately struck Anas al-Sharif, accusing him of being a “Hamas operative,” a claim Al Jazeera vehemently denies. The journalists were in a tent designated for journalists outside a hospital’s main gate.
2. He was killed because had had been extensively covering Israeli military operations in northern Gaza.
3. International Condemnation – Press freedom groups (CPJ, RSF) and the UN have demanded an independent investigation, calling it a potential war crime.
4. Previous Threats – Al-Sharif had survived multiple near-miss attacks before this assassination and had been receiving death threats repeatedly.

Broader Context:

• Over 200+ Palestinian journalists have been killed since October 2023 (per Reporters Without Borders).
• Israel has repeatedly accused Al Jazeera of being a “Hamas propaganda tool,” leading to its ban in Israel in May 2024.
• This follows the 2022 killing of Shireen Abu Akleh, whose death was later admitted by Israel as a likely IDF sniper attack (though no one was prosecuted).

What Happens Now?

• Al Jazeera has vowed to pursue legal action at the ICC (International Criminal Court).
• The UN Security Council may hold an emergency session, as journalist killings violate international law.

Al Jazeera condemns the killing of correspondents Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh, cameramen Ibrahim Zaher and Moamen Aliwa, and their assistant Mohammed Noufal, calling it a “desperate attempt to silence the voices exposing the impending seizure and occupation of Gaza”.