Five Al Jazeera journalists were killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza. The military claims one, Anas al-Sharif, was a Hamas leader, while Al Jazeera accuses Israel of targeting media workers since the start of the Gaza war.
Tel Aviv: At least five journalists were killed in an Israeli strike on a tent housing journalists outside al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on Sunday (local time), Al Jazeera reported.
Al Jazeera Confirms Death Of Two Correspondents And Camera Operators
The deceased journalists included two Al Jazeera correspondents, Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh, along with camera operators Ibrahim Zaher and Mohammed Noufal, the outlet reported.
The Israeli military confirmed killing al-Sharif, while alleging that he was “acting under the pretence of an Al Jazeera journalist” while supposedly working for Hamas.
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IDF Claims Al-Sharif Was Hamas Operative Posing As Journalist
“STRUCK: Hamas terrorist Anas Al-Sharif, who posed as an Al Jazeera journalist. Al-Sharif was the head of a Hamas terrorist cell and advanced rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and IDF troops,” the IDF wrote on X.
“Intelligence and documents from Gaza, including rosters, terrorist training lists and salary records, prove he was a Hamas operative integrated into Al Jazeera. A press badge isn’t a shield for terrorism,” the post added.
CPJ Reports Nearly 200 Journalists Killed Since October 2023
According to Al Jazeera, the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has been able to verify the killing of at least 186 journalists since October 7, 2023. At least 90 journalists have been imprisoned by Israel.
The Israeli military has been systematically killing journalists, photographers and local media workers in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war in an attempt to silence their reports, as per Al Jazeera.
Netanyahu Announces Plan To Allow More Foreign Journalists Into Gaza
This attack came hours after the Israeli prime minister told foreign media he had decided to allow some foreign journalists into the Gaza Strip, Al Jazeera stated.
“In fact, we have decided, and I’ve ordered, directed the military, to bring in foreign journalists, more foreign journalists,” Netanyahu said at the news conference in Jerusalem.
“There’s a problem of assuring security, but I think it can be done in a way that is responsible and careful to preserve your own safety,” he added.
The Israeli authorities have long prevented any foreign media from entering the Gaza Strip, while it has deliberately targeted and killed close to 200 local Palestinian journalists since October 2023.