Since October 7, 2023, Israel has killed 238 journalists in the Gaza Strip.

Israel has deliberately killed five Al Jazeera journalists including its prominent correspondents Mohammed Qraiqea and Anas Al-Sharif in an airstrike on a press tent outside of Gaza City’s Al-Shifa Hospital.

The attack on Sunday evening killed seven people including Al Jazeera’s camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa. Israel admitted that it ordered the killing of Al-Sharif following its incitement campaign against him over his coverage of the genocide on the ground.

Al Jazeera issued a statement shortly after the attack condemning the assassination of its press crew, highlighting Israel’s “desperate attempt” to silence those exposing its crimes during the genocide in the Gaza Strip.

“The order to assassinate Anas Al Sharif, one of Gaza’s bravest journalists, and his colleagues, is a desperate attempt to silence the voices exposing the impending seizure and occupation of Gaza,” the Qatar-based network said.

It added that it “holds the Israeli occupation forces and government responsible for deliberately targeting and assassinating its journalists”.

Al-Sharif and his colleagues became known for their courage in covering Israel’s harrowing crimes in the Gaza Strip, including the daily airstrikes and the starvation of Palestinians in the territory.

Al Jazeera noted the journalists “were among the last remaining voices from within Gaza” as they “persisted in the strip to ensure the world sees the harrowing truth experienced by Gaza’s population”.

The network also called on the international community “to take decisive measures to halt this ongoing genocide and end the deliberate targeting of journalists”.

“Al Jazeera emphasises that immunity for perpetrators and the lack of accountability embolden Israel’s actions and encourage further oppression against witnesses to the truth,” it added.

Last month, Israeli army spokesperson Avichai Adraee published a video on social media accusing Al-Sharif of being a member of Hamas’s military wing—a common allegation by Israel to justify the targeting of civilians.

Al-Sharif had called on the international community to protect him from Israel’s plan to assassinate him for months since it waged the campaign against him.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said it was “appalled to learn of the killing” of the journalists while dismissing Israel’s justification of the crime.

“Israel’s pattern of labeling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence raises serious questions about its intent and respect for press freedom,” Sara Qudah, CPJ Regional Director, said.

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

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has killed 238 journalists. The figure includes five Al Jazeera members: Samer Abu Daqqa, Hamza Dahdouh, Ismael Al-Ghoul, Ahmed Al-Louh, and Hossam Shabat.

The journalists are among more than 61,700 Palestinians killed by Israel since it launched its genocide, with thousands others still trapped under the rubble.

Gaza’s courageous voice

Al-Sharif was known for his courage and dedication to his journalistic duty, becoming known as the voice of Gaza during the genocide. 

He had written a final message on April 6 that he wanted to be published in the event of his killing.

“I have lived through pain in all its details, tasted suffering and loss many times, yet I never once hesitated to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or falsification, so that Allah may bear witness against those who stayed silent, those who accepted our killing,” he said.

Al-Sharif had conveyed his love for his homeland, Palestine, and entrusted the world with it.

“I entrust you with its people, with its wronged and innocent children who never had the time to dream or live in safety and peace[…]I urge you not to let chains silence you, nor borders restrain you,” he said.

Al-Sharif also left behind his wife Bayan, his son Salah, and daughter Sham.

“I entrust you with my beloved daughter Sham, the light of my eyes, whom I never got the chance to watch grow up as I had dreamed. I entrust you with my dear son Salah, whom I had wished to support and accompany through life until he grew strong enough to carry my burden and continue the mission,” he said.