Who Was Anas al-Sharif? Al Jazeera Reporter Killed in Israeli Attack on Gaza City
Who was Anas al-Sharif? Gaza journalist’s death sparks global outrage and conflicting narratives.
Gaza War: Controversy Over Death of Al Jazeera Correspondent Anas al-Sharif
📌 Key Points
♦ Killed: Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif, 28, and four colleagues in an Israeli strike near al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza City
♦ Al Jazeera’s stance: Calls it a “premeditated attack on press freedom”
♦ IDF’s claim: Alleged he was a Hamas operative leading rocket attacks
♦ Press groups: Demand investigation, reject Israeli allegations as unsubstantiated
♦ Background: Known for front-line war coverage, refused to leave Gaza despite losing family
📍 The Story
Al Jazeera confirmed that Anas al-Sharif, one of Gaza’s most recognised war correspondents, was killed on Sunday night in an Israeli strike outside the main gate of al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. The attack hit a tent used by journalists, killing seven people, including four Al Jazeera staff members — Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa.
The Qatar-based broadcaster condemned the strike as a “blatant and premeditated attack” on the media.
Moments before his death, al-Sharif had posted on X (formerly Twitter) about “intense, concentrated Israeli bombardment” in the city. In a message written months earlier to be released if killed, he wrote:
“I never hesitated to convey the truth, despite pain, grief and loss repeatedly.”
🧾 Who He Was
♦ Age: 28
♦ Role: Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent
♦ Family: Married, two children
♦ Personal loss: Father killed in an Israeli strike in December 2023
♦ Reporting focus: Northern Gaza, aftermath of Israeli bombardments
♦ Threats: Publicly accused by the IDF in 2024 of being a Hamas member — a claim rejected by the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression
⚔ What the IDF Says
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed it targeted the site, claiming al-Sharif “posed as a journalist” while serving as head of a Hamas cell behind rocket attacks.
The IDF said it recovered training records, personnel lists, and salary documents in Gaza that proved his Hamas affiliation. It stated that precision weapons and intelligence were used to minimise civilian harm.
🗣 Counterclaims
Al Jazeera and press freedom groups have rejected Israel’s assertions, accusing the military of trying to justify the killing of journalists and suppress coverage from Gaza. The Committee to Protect Journalists called the deaths part of a pattern of labeling journalists as militants without credible proof.
