Anas al-Sharif, a 28-year-old Al Jazeera correspondent, was among five journalists killed in an Israeli strike on Gaza City on Sunday, sparking international condemnation and renewed scrutiny over the targeting of media workers in conflict zones.
Born in Jabalia, northern Gaza, Sharif joined Al Jazeera two years ago and quickly became one of its most visible reporters during the war. Married with two young children, he often worked far from his family, refusing Israeli evacuation orders to continue covering the plight of civilians in the north. Colleagues describe him as courageous and relentless, venturing into areas of intense bombardment to document the devastation and human suffering.
The Israeli military alleges Sharif was “the head of a Hamas terrorist cell” responsible for launching rockets at Israel. It claims to possess documents proving his military affiliation, including rosters, training records, and salary lists, but has provided limited publicly verifiable evidence. Sharif had previously denied the accusation, and Al Jazeera, along with media freedom groups such as Reporters Without Borders (RSF), dismissed the claims as baseless.
The BBC reports that Sharif had worked for a Hamas media team before the war, though some of his recent social media posts were critical of the group. The Committee to Protect Journalists stressed that prior political affiliations do not make someone an active combatant under international law.
Sharif’s death is part of a grim toll nearly 200 journalists have been killed since Israel’s war in Gaza began after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack. Al Jazeera managing editor Mohamed Moawad called him “the only voice left in Gaza City,” highlighting his critical role in reporting from one of the most dangerous areas in the world.
His killing follows a broader pattern cited by critics, who point to the 2022 shooting of veteran Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Aqla as evidence of a lack of accountability.
In a prewritten farewell message posted posthumously, Sharif left a poignant reminder of his mission: “I gave every effort and all my strength to be a support and a voice for my people… Do not forget Gaza.”
His death underscores the lethal risks faced by journalists in Gaza and the battle over truth in a war where even the messengers are targets.
