Anas al-Sharif: Prominent Reporter Among 5 Al Jazeera Journalists Killed in Israel Strike in Gaza
- Al Jazeera's reporter Anas al-Sharif's murder, a senior newsroom figure described the loss as unprecedented, noting restrictions on foreign media
- An international watchdog condemned the attack, citing a long-standing pattern of posthumous accusations against reporters without supporting evidence
- The journalist’s detailed pre-written farewell emerged online, showing his deep commitment to his homeland’s struggle
Nancy Odindo, a TUKO.co.ke journalist, has over four years of experience covering Kenyan politics, news, and features for digital and print media.
Five Al Jazeera journalists, including prominent correspondent Anas al-Sharif, have been killed in an Israeli strike near the main gate of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.
Source: Twitter
Al-Sharif and fellow correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh, along with cameramen Moamen Aliwa, Mohammed Noufal, and Ibrahim Zaher, were in a tent designated for journalists when they were killed on Sunday, August 10.
According to a BBC report, Al Jazeera’s managing editor, Mohamed Moawad, said that al-Sharif was an accredited journalist who served as 'the only voice' for the world to understand events in the Gaza Strip.
He noted that Israel has barred international reporters from freely entering Gaza throughout the war, forcing news outlets to rely on local journalists for coverage.
“They were targeted in their tent; they were not covering from the front line,” Moawad said. “The Israeli government wants to silence the coverage of any channel reporting from inside Gaza. This is something I haven’t seen before in modern history.”
Why was Anas al-Sharif killed?
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed the strike on al-Sharif, 28, alleging he was the head of a Hamas 'terrorist cell' responsible for advancing rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and troops.
“A short while ago, in Gaza City, the IDF struck the terrorist Anas Al-Sharif, who posed as a journalist for the Al Jazeera network,” it said on Telegram.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the attack, accusing Israel of failing to provide evidence for its claims.
The CPJ accused Israel of having a long-standing pattern, seen both in the current war and in past decades, of killing journalists and later labelling them as terrorists without providing substantial evidence.
In the moments before his death, al-Sharif posted on X, warning of intensified Israeli bombardment in Gaza City and urging global action to stop the bloodshed.
He accused the international community of being 'silent witnesses to a genocide.'
"If this madness does not end, 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," he wrote.
Source: Twitter
What is Anas al-Sharif's last will and message?
A pre-written farewell message, dated April 6, 2025, was shared on his X account after his murder.
In it, al-Sharif addressed his loved ones, expressed his lifelong dedication to reporting from Gaza, and entrusted the 'liberation' of Palestine to future generations.
“This is my will and my final message. If these words reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice. Allah knows I gave every effort and all my strength to be a support and a voice for my people, ever since I opened my eyes to life in the alleys and streets of the Jabalia refugee camp... I have lived through pain in all its details, tasted suffering and loss many times, yet I never once wavered to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or falsification," he said.
Al-Sharif dedicated his final words to his wife Bayan, their young daughter Sham, and son Salah, as well as his mother, whom he described as his guiding light.
He prayed to be accepted among the martyrs and hoped his death would light up the path of freedom for his people.
"I urge you not to let chains silence you, nor borders restrain you. Be bridges toward the liberation of the land and its people until the sun of dignity and freedom rises over our stolen homeland. I entrust you to take care of my family," the note added.
Will Germany stop exporting military equipment to Israel?
Meanwhile, Germany announced plans to suspend exports of military equipment to Israel that could be used in Gaza.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the move followed Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza City, which Berlin said raised doubts about achieving disarmament of Hamas and securing the release of hostages.
The German government also cited deep concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Merz reaffirmed support for Israel’s right to defend itself while prioritising a ceasefire and hostage release.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
