Al Jazeera says five of its journalists were killed on Sunday in an Israeli airstrike on a tent for media workers outside a hospital in Gaza City, intensifying concerns over press safety in the ongoing Gaza conflict.
The victims include prominent correspondent Anas al-Sharif and fellow reporter Mohammed Qreiqeh, along with camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa.
Israel’s military confirmed it carried out the strike, alleging that al-Sharif, 28, was a “Hamas terrorist” operating under the guise of journalism. The army accused him of leading a Hamas cell responsible for rocket attacks.
Al Jazeera strongly denied the claims, calling the attack a deliberate targeting of media professionals.
The Qatar-based network said al-Sharif was widely recognised for his on-the-ground reports from northern Gaza and had been documenting Israeli bombardments hours before his death.
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The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said it was “appalled” by the killings, criticising Israel for repeatedly labelling journalists as militants without providing evidence. “Journalists are civilians and must never be targeted,” said CPJ’s regional director, Sara Qudah.
The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate described the incident as a “bloody crime” and an “assassination,” while Reporters Without Borders noted that over 200 journalists have been killed in Gaza since the war began 22 months ago.
The strike came shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced an expanded military offensive against Hamas strongholds, alongside plans to allow more foreign journalists to embed with Israeli forces.
International criticism is mounting, with UN officials warning that Israel’s expanded operations risk worsening Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, which they say is already on the brink of famine.