Four Journalists Killed In Israeli Attacks Claimed To Target Hamas Leaders

JAKARTA - At least four journalists were killed in airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, Palestine on Sunday, an attack the Israeli military claims as a Hamas cell leader posing as a journalist, while human rights activists say they were targeted for its frontline coverage of the Gaza war.

Anas Al Sharif (28) was among four Al Jazeera journalists and an assistant who was killed in an attack on a tent near the Shifa Hospital in eastern Gaza City, Gaza and Al Jazeera officials said.

The group of journalists and Al Jazeera condemned the killings. Other journalists who died were Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Zaher, and Mohammed Noufal, Al Jazeera said.

An official at the hospital said two other people were also killed in the attack.

Separately, Al Sharif is the head of the Hamas cell and is "responsible for rocket attacks directed at Israeli civilians and IDF (Israeli) troops," the Israeli military said in a statement, citing intelligence and documents found in Gaza as evidence.

Meanwhile, a press freedom group and UN experts previously warned that Al Sharif's life was threatened because of his report from Gaza. UN Special Reporter Irene Khan said last month that Israel's claims to him were baseless.

Al Jazeera says Al Sharif has left a message on social media to be uploaded if he dies, which reads, "I never hesitate to tell the truth of what it is, without distortion or misrepresentation, hoping God will witness those who remain silent."

In a statement, the Journalist Protection Committee (CPJ), which in July urged the international community to protect Al Sharif, said Israel failed to provide any evidence to support its accusations against it.

"The Israeli pattern labels journalists as militants without providing credible evidence raises serious questions about their intentions and respect for press freedom," said Sara Qudah, director of CPJ for the Middle East and North Africa.

Al Sharif, whose X account shows more than 500,000 followers, posted on the platform minutes before his death, Israel had bombarded Gaza City intensively for more than two hours.

Calling Al Sharif "one of the boldest journalists in Gaza," Al Jazeera said the attack "is a desperate attempt to silence voices anticipating Gaza's occupation."

Separately, Palestinian militant group Hamas, which controls Gaza, said the killing may signal the start of an Israeli attack.

"The killing of journalists and the intimidation of those who remain pave the way for major crimes planned by the occupation of Gaza City," Hamas said in a statement.

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would launch a new attack to destroy the Hamas stronghold in Gaza, where the hunger crisis escalated after 22 months of war.

"Anas Al Sharif and his colleagues are among the last remaining voices in Gaza that convey tragic realities to the world," Al Jazeera said.

Gaza's Hamas-run state media office said 237 journalists had been killed since the war began on October 7, 2023. Meanwhile, the Journalists Protection Committee said at least 186 journalists had died in the Gaza conflict.