Gaza City – Five Al Jazeera journalists were killed in an Israeli air strike near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, in what the network has called a “blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom.” The incident took place on Sunday when the journalists were working in a designated media tent outside the hospital.
Journalists Targeted at Hospital Gate
According to Al Jazeera, correspondents Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh, along with cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa, were present in the tent when it was hit. Seven people were killed in total. Initially, the broadcaster reported four staff deaths but later updated the toll to five.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed it had targeted al-Sharif, claiming he was “the head of a terrorist cell in Hamas.” However, no mention was made of the other journalists killed.
Al Jazeera Denies Israeli Claims
Al Jazeera Managing Editor Mohamed Moawad rejected Israel’s accusations, stating al-Sharif was an accredited journalist who had been “the only voice” reporting on conditions inside Gaza. “They were targeted in their tent. They were not on the front lines,” Moawad told the BBC.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also condemned the strike, noting a repeated pattern in which Israel accuses slain journalists of militant ties without presenting credible evidence.
Growing Dangers for Journalists in Gaza
Since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, at least 186 journalists have been killed, according to CPJ figures. Israel has barred international reporters from entering Gaza freely, forcing media outlets to rely heavily on local journalists.
The risks extend beyond air strikes. Many reporters face severe shortages of food and basic supplies. In July, the BBC, Reuters, AP, and AFP issued a joint statement expressing “desperate concern” for journalists struggling with hunger, as some go days without eating.
A Pattern of Targeted Attacks
This is not the first time Al Jazeera journalists have been killed in Gaza. In August 2024, reporter Ismael Al-Ghoul and cameraman Rami al-Rifi died in an Israeli strike. Israel alleged they were involved in the October 7 Hamas attack, a claim strongly denied by the network.
Human rights organisations and aid agencies have repeatedly urged Israel to stop targeting media workers, warning that such actions undermine transparency and accountability during armed conflicts.
With more than 61,000 deaths reported in Gaza by the Hamas-run health ministry since Israel’s military offensive began, the loss of these five journalists adds another grim chapter to a war where the truth itself is under siege.
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