Targeting the truth: IDF airstrike KILLS Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza
By bellecarter // 2025-08-14
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  • On Aug. 10, the Israel Defense Forces launched an airstrike on a journalist camp outside Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, resulting in the deaths of at least seven people, including five Al Jazeera staff members.
  • Prominent Arabic correspondent Anas al-Sharif, known for his coverage of the Gaza humanitarian crisis, was among the victims. The IDF claimed he was a Hamas "terrorist cell" leader, a claim Al Jazeera vehemently denied.
  • Since the Israeli war on Hamas began, at least 237 journalists have been killed in Gaza, with Al Jazeera losing 11 staff members and eight freelancers. This incident is part of a broader pattern of violence against journalists, with rights groups accusing Israel of systematically targeting media workers.
  • The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the United Nations have condemned the attack, citing a lack of evidence for Israel's claims and expressing concern over the targeting of journalists. The CPJ noted that Israel has killed more journalists in the past 22 months than were killed worldwide in the preceding three years.
  • Al Jazeera Media Network condemned the killings as attacks on press freedom, urging the international community to take action to stop the targeting of journalists. The incident underscores the dangers faced by journalists in conflict zones and the need for accountability to ensure their safety.
On Sunday evening, Aug. 10, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched an airstrike on a journalist camp outside Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, killing at least seven people, including five Al Jazeera staff members. Among the victims was Anas al-Sharif, a prominent Arabic correspondent known for his extensive coverage of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The attack occurred as journalists had gathered in one place after a period of intense Israeli bombardment. Al-Sharif, who had been reporting on the situation in Gaza since the start of the war in October 2023, was targeted by the IDF, which claimed he was the head of a Hamas "terrorist cell" operating under the guise of a reporter. However, the news agency denied these allegations, describing them as part of a "campaign of incitement" against its journalists. The killing of journalists in conflict zones is not a new phenomenon, but the frequency and impunity with which they are targeted in Gaza have drawn international condemnation. Since the Israeli war on Hamas began, at least 237 journalists have been killed, according to the Government Media Office in Gaza, with Al Jazeera alone losing 11 staff members and eight freelancers. This latest incident is part of a broader pattern of violence against journalists in the region, with rights groups accusing Israel of systematically targeting media workers to suppress the truth. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the attack, stating that Israel provided "no evidence" to support its claims that al-Sharif was a Hamas member. CPJ CEO Jodie Ginsberg said, "This is part of a pattern that we have seen from Israel … going back decades in which it kills journalists." Muhammed Shehada, an analyst at the nonprofit Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, echoed this sentiment. He argued that there was "zero evidence" that al-Sharif took part in any hostilities. "His entire daily routine was standing in front of a camera from morning to evening," Shehada said.

The impact on press freedom

The United Nations special rapporteur on freedom of expression, Irene Khan, expressed deep concern over the repeated threats and accusations against al-Sharif. "Fears for al-Sharif's safety are well-founded as there is growing evidence that journalists in Gaza have been targeted and killed by the Israeli army on the basis of unsubstantiated claims that they were Hamas terrorists," she said. Correspondent Hani Mahmoud, who was just one block away when the strike hit, said reporting on al-Sharif's killing was the hardest thing he has had to do in the past 22 months of war. "The reporters were killed because of their relentless reporting on the starvation and the famine and the malnutrition suffered by Palestinians in Gaza, because they're bringing the truth of this crime to everyone," he said. (Related: Four Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza airstrike, death toll of journalists reaches 182.) The killing of al-Sharif and his colleagues is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by journalists in conflict zones, particularly in Gaza. The international community must demand accountability for these attacks and work to ensure the safety of journalists who are risking their lives to report the truth. As CPJ Regional Director Sara Qudah stated, "Israel has killed more journalists in the 22 months since the start of the war than were killed worldwide in the preceding three years. Deliberately targeting journalists is a war crime under international law. This massacre must end." Watch this video about the IDF's recent airstrike on UNRWA's clinic located west of Gaza City. This video is from Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

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