Anas Al-Sharif, one of the most important journalists, for his long and continuous coverage of military action and war in Gaza. Tragically, his life was cut short during an Israeli military strike this Wednesday. The strike just outside the main gate of Al-Shifa Hospital reportedly killed six others. Al-Sharif and her journalists colleagues were in a tent marked ‘Press’ when the attack happened.
Al-Sharif, just 28 at the time, had been a courageous downtrodden voice in the clashing explosions of civil war. He had previously rejected the Israeli military’s claims that he headed a Hamas infiltration team. Rather, he claimed, he was just a journalist on a mission to tell the truth. As an initial matter, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claim that they have “unequivocal proof” connecting Al-Sharif to Hamas. Al-Sharif vehemently rejects these charges.
Al-Sharif’s friends and colleagues had an emotional goodbye post. In it, he expressed his grave concerns about the impact of telling the truth about what was happening in Gaza. He stated, “At a time when a deadly famine is ravaging Gaza, speaking the truth has become, in the eyes of the occupation, a threat.” To put it mildly, everyone connected—which is an understatement. Importantly, they identified his work as critical in helping the world understand the suffering of the people of Gaza.
Al-Sharif’s commitment to truth-telling and public service reflected the decades he spent as a stalwart journalist. He emphasized his impartiality, declaring, “I reaffirm: I, Anas Al-Sharif, am a journalist with no political affiliations. My only mission is to report the truth from the ground — as it is, without bias.” It was his dedication to finding the truth through the noise that established him as a passionate leader among the Fourth Estate.
Beyond the journalistic activities that he loved and inspired him, Al-Sharif was a family man. He is survived by a wife and two young children. On his last telegram, he released an emotional ask. He left specific instructions with his friends and colleagues to care for his baby son, Salah, and daughter Shams. “I urge you to care for my beloved daughter, Shams, the light of my eyes,” he wrote. He expressed hopes for his son: “And I recommend you to care for my dear son, Salah, whom I wished to be a support and companion on his journey until he grows strong enough to share the burden and continue the message.”
The death of Anas Al-Sharif is another heartbreaking mourning in a land already wracked by violence and war. Since the onset of this war nearly two years ago, 178 Palestinian journalists have been killed. They were courageously covering the unfolding massacre down in Gaza. His death has raised the stakes, inciting fury from media organizations and human rights advocates across the board.
Al Jazeera condemned the military’s actions in a statement, asserting that “the order to kill Anas Al-Sharif, one of Gaza’s bravest journalists, along with his colleagues, is a desperate attempt to silence voices ahead of the occupation of Gaza.” And Irene Khan, International Secretary-General of Amnesty International, said she was appalled by the lack of protection for journalists in such a dangerous area. “I am deeply alarmed by repeated threats and accusations of the Israeli army against Anas Al-Sharif,” she stated.
As the conflict continues to escalate, hundreds like Mohammad are scared for the future of journalism in Gaza. Al-Sharif’s untimely death serves as a tragic reminder of the extreme danger journalists encounter in their work to seek the truth in conflict zones. His courageous journalism speaks powerfully for those who suffer from the ravages of war. His commitment is an inspiring testament to the essential work journalists contribute to preserving history.
