GAZA CITY , August 10, 2025 – Al Jazeera has accused Israel of deliberately targeting and killing five of its staff members in an airstrike on a journalists’ tent outside Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, describing the attack as a calculated effort to eliminate witnesses ahead of intensified military operations in the area. The incident, which occurred late on August 10, has drawn international condemnation and heightened concerns over press freedom in the ongoing conflict.
The victims were identified as prominent Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent Anas al-Sharif, 28, reporter Mohammed Qreiqeh, and camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa. Al-Sharif, known for his on-the-ground reporting from northern Gaza since the war’s escalation in October 2023, had recently expressed fears for his safety, posting on X that Israeli forces were “preparing something big” and urging colleagues to amplify his work if he were killed. Al Jazeera stated that the strike hit a temporary shelter for media personnel near the hospital’s main gate, where the team was resting after covering the day’s events.
In a statement, the Qatar-based network called the killings a “desperate attempt to silence voices in anticipation of the occupation of Gaza,” linking it to Israel’s recently approved plan to assume military control of Gaza City. Hani Mahmoud, an Al Jazeera correspondent reporting from the scene via phone, described the aftermath, noting the tent was clearly marked as a press area The broadcaster has rejected any allegations against its staff, demanding an independent investigation and emphasizing that “a press badge isn’t a shield for terrorism,” echoing but inverting language used by critics.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the strike, asserting that it targeted Anas al-Sharif, whom they described as the “head of a Hamas terrorist cell” who “advanced rocket fire against IDF troops” while “posing as an Al Jazeera journalist.”
In a post on X, the IDF stated: “STRUCK: Hamas terrorist Anas Al-Sharif, who posed as an Al Jazeera journalist. A press badge isn’t a shield for terrorism.” The military provided no immediate evidence to support the claim but has previously accused Al Jazeera journalists of ties to militant groups, allegations the network has consistently denied as baseless smears aimed at justifying attacks on media. Israeli officials have not commented on the deaths of the other four staffers.
The strike comes amid a surge in Israeli bombing of Gaza City, which Palestinian sources and international observers describe as reminiscent of the conflict’s early, most destructive phases following Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that killed around 1,200 people and led to the abduction of 251 hostages. Israel’s security cabinet approved a plan last week to seize military control of Gaza City, aiming to “disarm Hamas” and facilitate the return of remaining hostages, according to official statements. However, the United Nations has labeled the move a “dangerous escalation” that could entrench Israel’s occupation and exacerbate the humanitarian crisis, where over 400,000 Palestinians have been killed or displaced since the war began, per Gaza health authorities.
Rights groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), have decried the incident as part of a pattern, noting that more than 250 journalists have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, the deadliest period for media workers in modern history. CPJ called for accountability, stating the attack on the journalists’ tent underscores Israel’s “campaign against the press.” Amnesty International urged Israel to rescind the Gaza City plan, warning it risks further mass atrocities.
Online reactions on X highlighted the divide, with pro-Palestinian users like @MyLordBebo labeling it the “entire Al Jazeera crew in Gaza” killed to suppress coverage, while others echoed IDF claims. Protests worldwide demanded an end to the violence, with demonstrators in Tel Aviv rallying against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s strategy.
As airstrikes continue, with reports of explosions in neighborhoods like Zaytoun and Tel al-Hawa, aid agencies warn of impending famine and a collapse in medical services at Al-Shifa Hospital. Neither the Israeli government nor Al Jazeera responded to further requests for comment on the broader implications for journalism in conflict zones. The incident underscores the perilous intersection of warfare, media, and allegations of terrorism in one of the world’s most protracted conflicts.