Israeli strike kills five Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza

Israeli air strikes have killed seven people, including five Al Jazeera journalists, outside the main gate of Gaza City’s al-Shifa Hospital.

The attack, which the broadcaster said was targeted, happened late Sunday evening.

Anas al-Sharif, a prominent reporter, was among the casualties.

The other journalists include Mohammed Qreiqeh, a correspondent; Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa —camera operators.

Al-Sharif’s death comes over a year after Israeli strikes bombed his family home in the Jabalia refugee camp and killed his 65-year-old father.

Before his death, the journalist repeatedly said he believed his life was in danger, accusing the Israeli military of a campaign against him, and expressed fears that he was going to be killed.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed al-Sharif was targeted, alleging that he “was the head of a Hamas terrorist cell”.

In a final message, written on April 6, to be published in the event of his death, al-Sharif said he “lived the pain in all its details” and “tasted grief and loss repeatedly”.

The reporter also expressed sorrow for having to leave his wife, Bayan, behind, and for not seeing his son, Salah, and daughter, Sham, grow up.

Al Jazeera has condemned Israel’s targeted assassination of its staff, saying the order to kill al-Sharif and his colleagues “is a desperate attempt to silence the voices exposing the impending seizure and occupation of Gaza”.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said it was appalled by the attack and that Israel had failed to provide evidence to back up its allegations against al-Sharif.

“Journalists are civilians and must never be targeted. Those responsible for these killings must be held accountable,” CPJ said.

Since the war started in October 2023, CPJ said 186 journalists have been killed in the Israel-Gaza face-off.

At least 178 of these journalists are Palestinians.