International bodies and media organizations criticize Israel for fatal attack on Al Jazeera crew in Gaza
In the heart of Gaza City, a tragic event unfolded on August 11, as a strike targeted a tent set up for journalists outside the main gate of Al-Shifa Hospital. Among those killed was Anas al-Sharif, a 28-year-old Al Jazeera correspondent, who was prominently reporting from Gaza.
However, Israel alleged that al-Sharif "posed as a journalist" before the strike, accusing him of being a Hamas militant and a member of the militant group's armed wing. These claims, however, have been met with widespread condemnation.
Al Jazeera and multiple observers have denounced these allegations as fabrications and a targeted assassination intended to silence journalists. There is no credible evidence supporting Israel's accusation that al-Sharif was a Hamas fighter.
The Israeli military released documents alleging Sharif's enlistment with Hamas in 2013, an injury report from 2017, his military unit, and rank. However, these documents have not been independently verified, and Al Jazeera has not made any statements confirming that their employees were affiliated with Hamas.
Sharif's role in the Hamas communication office was to publicise events organised by the group that has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2006. This is a far cry from the Israeli military's portrayal of him as a key player in Hamas's military operations.
The UN special rapporteur on Palestinian territories had earlier denounced threats against al-Sharif by the Israeli military, indicating ongoing harassment rather than evidence-based claims of militancy.
The killing of al-Sharif and four other Al Jazeera employees - Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa - has been condemned by the United Nations, the EU, and media rights groups. They view this as a grave breach of international humanitarian law.
Observers and critics argue that Israel's actions were an attempt to silence critical media voices on the ground. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, the hospital director, confirmed that a sixth journalist, freelance reporter Mohammed Al-Khaldi, was killed in the same strike.
As mourners carried the bodies of the journalists, wrapped in white shrouds with their faces exposed, through narrow alleys to their graves, the world watched in disbelief. The killing of these journalists underscores the importance of a free and independent media, a principle that should be upheld by all nations.
[1] Al Jazeera (2021). Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif killed in Israeli strike in Gaza. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/11/al-jazeera-journalist-anas-al-sharif-killed-in-israeli-strike-in-gaza
[2] Reuters (2021). Israel accuses Al Jazeera journalist killed in Gaza of Hamas ties. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-accuses-al-jazeera-journalist-killed-gaza-hamas-ties-2021-08-11/
[3] Human Rights Watch (2021). Israel: Killings of Al Jazeera Journalists May Amount to War Crimes. Retrieved from https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/08/12/israel-killings-al-jazeera-journalists-may-amount-war-crimes
[4] Amnesty International (2021). Israel: Killing of journalists may amount to war crimes. Retrieved from https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/08/israel-killing-of-journalists-may-amount-to-war-crimes/
- The incident involving the death of Anas al-Sharif, an Al Jazeera correspondent in Gaza City, has sparked discussions in the realm of politics, war-and-conflicts, general-news, and crime-and-justice, as Israel's accusations against him have been largely deemed fabrications and a potential targeted assassination of journalists.
- The international community, including the United Nations, EU, and various media rights groups, view the killing of Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza as a grave breach of international humanitarian law, indicating a possible intent to silence critical media voices in the region.
