Gaza Death Toll Among Al-Jashira Employees Revised
In the heart of the 2025 Gaza conflict, Anas Al-Sharif, an Al-Jazeera journalist, and four of his colleagues were tragically killed in a targeted Israeli airstrike outside Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. The attack, which took place in a tent for journalists in the city of Gaza, has been widely criticized both domestically and internationally.
Israel's military has claimed that Al-Sharif was leading a terrorist cell of the Islamic Hamas, a claim that remains unsubstantiated publicly. However, the Israeli military has not commented on the other five victims of the attack. Anas al-Qassim, one of the deceased journalists, was reportedly affiliated with Hamas according to Israeli military intelligence information and documents.
The European Union has condemned the killings, emphasizing the need to respect the rule of law and avoid targeting journalists. The organization Reporters Without Borders reported a total of six journalists died in the Gaza conflict, with Al-Sharif and his colleagues making up a significant portion of that number.
The attack on the journalists has been viewed as part of a deliberate campaign by Israeli forces to target journalists in Gaza, aiming to suppress independent coverage of the conflict. Since October 2023, Israeli actions have resulted in the deaths of at least 269 journalists in Gaza, a fact condemned by various journalist unions and human rights organizations.
Two days after the airstrike, there is still no explanation from the army as to why they targeted Al-Sharif and his colleagues. The Israeli newspaper "Times of Israel" reported the lack of explanation from the army regarding the attack on the journalists.
The killing of Al-Sharif and his colleagues has sparked protests and calls for accountability and protection of media workers covering the war. In a statement, Al-Jazeera revised down the number of its employees killed in the Israeli air strike from five to four, naming the four deceased journalists.
In summary, the targeted airstrike that killed four Al-Jazeera journalists in Gaza has sparked international outcry, with many viewing it as an attack on press freedom. Despite the Israeli military's claims, the allegations against the journalists remain unsubstantiated publicly. The incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers faced by journalists covering conflicts and the need for accountability in the use of force.
[1] European Union condemns killings of journalists in Gaza (BBC News, 2025) [2] Protests erupt in Gaza after journalists killed in airstrike (Al Jazeera, 2025) [3] Israel accused of targeting journalists in Gaza (The Guardian, 2025) [4] International bodies condemn killing of Al-Jazeera journalists in Gaza (Reuters, 2025)
