A prominent Al Jazeera journalist, Anas al-Sharif, who had previously expressed fears about potentially being killed, lost his life in an Israeli airstrike. Al-Sharif, known for documenting the release of hostages and for removing his body armor following a ceasefire, was killed along with three colleagues in a tent designated for journalists near al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.
Al Jazeera reported that journalists Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh, along with camera operators Ibrahim Zaher and Mohammed Noufal, were killed in the Israeli strike. The Israel Defense Force (IDF) confirmed the airstrike and accused al-Sharif of leading a terrorist cell for Hamas, claiming responsibility for advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and forces.
In July, al-Sharif had confided in the Committee to Protect Journalists about living with the constant fear of being targeted and killed. He was renowned for his coverage of the conflict in Gaza, especially his work on the release of Israeli hostages captured by Hamas.
Following a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in January, al-Sharif gained significant attention when he removed his body armor during a live broadcast, symbolizing a moment of respite amid conflict, surrounded by Gaza residents celebrating the temporary truce.
Moments before his death, al-Sharif posted on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the intensity of the Israeli bombardment targeting the eastern and southern areas of Gaza City.
An Al Jazeera journalist in Gaza, Hani Mahmoud, expressed deep distress over the loss, describing the incident as the most challenging he has reported on in the past 22 months. Mahmoud reported hearing the massive explosion near al-Shifa Hospital and witnessed the area lighting up, quickly learning that the journalist camp at the hospital’s main gate was the target. He also pointed out that the attack came a week after an Israeli military official had directly accused al-Sharif and launched a campaign of incitement against Al Jazeera and its journalists on the ground for their reporting on starvation, famine, and malnutrition in the region.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/10/prominent-al-jazeera-journalist-killed-in-israeli-airstrike-on-gaza
