Five journalists working for international news network Al Jazeera were killed in an Israeli airstrike near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. The victims were identified as correspondents Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qureiqeh, cameramen Ibrahim Zaher and Mohammed Noufal, and journalist Moamen Alia.
Al Jazeera condemned the attack, describing it as part of “a continuous campaign of incitement and targeting against its journalists.” The network noted that just two weeks earlier, it had accused Israeli forces of deliberately targeting its reporters, particularly Anas al-Sharif.
Shortly after the strike, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed in a Telegram post that al-Sharif was deliberately targeted. The IDF alleged that he was leading “a Hamas terrorist cell under the guise of journalism.” However, it made no comment on the deaths of the other four journalists.
Two videos verified by BBC Verify show bodies being carried away after the strike, with people at the scene calling out Mohammed Qureiqeh’s name and a person wearing a press vest identifying al-Sharif’s body.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), at least 186 journalists have been killed since Israel launched its military offensive in Gaza in October 2023.
The IDF stated that prior to the strike, it had taken measures to minimize civilian casualties, including the use of precision-guided munitions, aerial surveillance, and other intelligence resources. Al Jazeera, however, said the attack was a dangerous attempt to obstruct the work of journalists.
Source: BBC