Anas al-Sharif, the slain Palestinian journalist, left behind his last written communication before his tragic demise.
In the heart of Gaza City, on August 10, 2025, a tragic event unfolded that sent shockwaves across the globe. Israeli forces bombed a journalists' tent near Al-Shifa Hospital, resulting in the death of seven individuals, including Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif and several colleagues [1][2].
Al-Sharif, a near-constant on-air presence, was a beacon of truth and resilience, providing invaluable footage and testimony through his daily reports. At just 28 years old, his life was abruptly cut short, leaving behind a wife and two young children [3].
The attack was widely condemned as a "premeditated assassination" intended to "silence voices," with Al Jazeera and human rights organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch denouncing it as a war crime [2][3].
Israel has repeatedly targeted Palestinian journalists in Gaza, often justifying these actions by accusing them of ties to Hamas. In the case of Anas al-Sharif, the Israeli military claimed he was a militant, an accusation vehemently denied by the journalists and widely considered unverified by independent observers [3].
The killing of Anas al-Sharif is part of a broader pattern of targeting Palestinian journalists, a practice that has escalated during recent conflicts. Over 237 Palestinian journalists and media workers have been killed by Israeli forces since the assault on Gaza began 22 months ago, a figure that exceeds all previous records [4].
International legal organisations such as Reporters Without Borders consider the deliberate targeting of journalists a war crime. The UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression has expressed deep concern over Israel’s repeated, unfounded accusations against journalists like al-Sharif and highlighted Israel’s refusal to allow international journalists into Gaza while targeting local reporters [5].
The targeting of journalists in Gaza has severely compromised press freedom, limiting independent coverage of the conflict and restricting the world's knowledge of the situation on the ground [2][5]. This pattern of Israeli military actions, which endangers, injures, and kills Palestinian journalists amid broader conflict dynamics involving information control and military objectives, is a matter of grave international concern.
As the world mourns the loss of Anas al-Sharif, it is important to remember his courage and dedication to truth-telling. His final message to the world, posted on his account in the hours following his assassination, urged people not to forget Gaza. Let us honour his memory by standing up for press freedom and holding those responsible for his death accountable.
References:
[1] Al Jazeera (2025). Israel strikes journalists' tent in Gaza City, killing at least seven. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/10/israel-strikes-journalists-tent-in-gaza-city-killing-at-least-seven
[2] Human Rights Watch (2025). Israel: Deliberate Killing of Journalist Anas al-Sharif a War Crime. Retrieved from https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/08/11/israel-deliberate-killing-journalist-anas-al-sharif-war-crime
[3] Committee to Protect Journalists (2024). Israel labels six Al Jazeera journalists as militants. Retrieved from https://cpj.org/2024/10/israel-labels-six-al-jazeera-journalists-as-militants/
[4] Committee to Protect Journalists (n.d.). Attacks on the Press in Palestine. Retrieved from https://cpj.org/data/studies/attacks-on-the-press-in-palestine/
[5] UN Human Rights Council (2025). Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967. Retrieved from https://undocs.org/A/HRC/47/51
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