Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent Anas al-Sharif was killed on Sunday in Gaza City, along with three colleagues, after a tent housing journalists outside the main gate of al-Shifa hospital was struck. The hospital’s director described the incident as a targeted attack.
The 28-year-old reporter, known for his extensive coverage from northern Gaza, died alongside correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh and camera operators Ibrahim Zaher and Mohammed Noufal.
The Israeli military stated that al-Sharif was the head of a Hamas cell involved in organising rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and troops. Al Jazeera has rejected this claim, with the network previously accusing the Israeli military of conducting a campaign of incitement against its reporters in Gaza.
In July, Israeli army spokesperson Avichai Adraee circulated a video alleging al-Sharif’s membership in Hamas’s military wing, a claim denied by the journalist and the network. Rights groups have said Israel routinely accuses Palestinian journalists of Hamas affiliation to undermine reporting on its operations.
Since October 2023, over 200 reporters and media workers have been killed during the conflict, including several Al Jazeera journalists and their relatives.
Commenting on the killing, Gaza-based writer and analyst Muhammad Shehada said there was “zero evidence” that al-Sharif engaged in hostilities. He noted that Israeli claims about his alleged militant role were contradictory and inconsistent, with some documents suggesting injuries that would have prevented him from participating in combat.
Shehada added that al-Sharif’s daily work involved being on camera from morning until evening and that his influence in Gaza may have made him a target.