On Thursday, a specific Israeli airstrike responsive Gaza City. Anas Al-Sharif, a 28-year-old journalist with Al Jazeera, was killed in the bombing. The strike hit Al-Shifa Hospital, where Al-Sharif was inside a tent marked with a “Press” sign, situated near the hospital’s entrance. The sadistic attack on this place of worship resulted in the loss of at least seven lives. Each victim included Al-Sharif, who became known for his in-depth reporting on the ongoing war in Gaza.
For context, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) had previously accused Al-Sharif of being a member of Hamas, which he strongly denied. Al-Sharif’s last public act was to post an emotional final farewell on social media. In it, he shared his terror, anger and despair at what was happening in Gaza. He stated, “If these words reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice.” He called this message his “will and last message.” It highlights not only his commitment to the craft of journalism but the perilous neighborhoods he was reporting from.
Al-Sharif was a journalist based in Gaza for close to two years during assassinations, escalation, political violence, and civil unrest. He is one of at least 186 journalists who have been killed since the war began. The overwhelming majority, 178 of them, were Palestinians who tragically died from Israeli strikes. His death has led to outcry across the globe. This extremely troubling incident raises broader concerns about the safety of all journalists covering the continuing war in eastern Ukraine.
In his closing thoughts, Al-Sharif shared a sobering glimpse into the lives of those in Gaza today. He wrote, “Allah knows I gave every effort and all my strength to be a support and a voice for my people.” His words struck a serious chord, summing up the plight of civilians in the area. He recounted feeling the depth of pain, pain and loss, as he said, “I have tasted suffering and loss many times.”
Al-Sharif’s determination to speak out and tell the truth never wavered. He declared, “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.” In doing so, he pushed back against the prevailing narrative of the danger to journalists who cover war. He explained that now, for occupying forces, factual reporting is considered an “enemy.”
His moving testimony did not stop there as he turned his focus to the worsening humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. He warned that if the current violence persisted, “Gaza will be reduced to ruins, its people’s voices silenced, their faces erased — and history will remember you as silent witnesses to a genocide you chose not to stop.”
Al-Sharif’s death represents a broader, alarming trend in the ever-increasing dangers to journalists in conflict zones. The international community has expressed outrage at the severe risks that journalists working to report on the war now face. Many argue that such targeted attacks on media personnel signify a systematic crackdown on journalistic freedom and an attempt to suppress dissenting narratives.
The immediate reaction to Al-Sharif’s death has been one of anger and sadness. Now, major media organizations and human rights advocates are condemning the strike. They see it as continuing a shocking trend of violence directed against journalists. They assert that all of these actions put the lives of individuals in jeopardy. Further, they violate the rights to free expression and access to information, enshrined in law.
