International bodies and news organizations harshly criticize Israel for the lethal attack on Al Jazeera's staff in Gaza
In the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the international community is expressing growing concern over the recent death of Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif. According to available information and Al Jazeera's position, al-Sharif was recognized as a journalist, not a combatant.
Israel, however, has claimed that al-Sharif was a leader of a Hamas cell, an allegation that has been strongly denied and described as baseless by Al Jazeera and other observers. Under international law, journalists covering armed conflicts are considered civilians and protected persons, unless they take a direct part in hostilities. There is no credible evidence publicly provided to support Israel's claim that al-Sharif was a combatant.
Al-Sharif was known for his reporting from Gaza on the humanitarian crisis and Israeli bombardments. The strike that killed him was said by Israeli military to have targeted him specifically, but independent media organizations and human rights groups view him as a non-combatant journalist killed while doing professional reporting.
The killing of al-Sharif and other journalists has been condemned by multiple press freedom groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, as a violation of press freedom and a potential war crime. The United Nations and humanitarian agencies have also been vocal in their condemnation of the planned offensive, stating that it will likely trigger another calamity in Gaza.
The Israeli military has accused al-Sharif of heading a Hamas "terrorist cell" and being "responsible for advancing rocket attacks" against Israelis. However, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) had previously called for al-Sharif's protection due to online posts by an Israeli military spokesman.
The Israeli offensive has resulted in the deaths of thousands of Palestinians, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. The EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Germany, and Australia, among others, have expressed their condemnation of the killing of the Al Jazeera journalists.
In the wake of this tragedy, the bodies of the journalists were carried through narrow alleys to their graves, with mourners wearing blue journalists' flak jackets. Freelance reporter Mohammed Al-Khaldi was also killed in the same strike that targeted the Al Jazeera team.
Al Jazeera stated that four other employees, including correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh and cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa, were also killed in the strike. The Israeli military has released documents alleging al-Sharif's enlistment with Hamas in 2013, an injury report from 2017, and the name of his military unit and rank.
However, the CPJ has accused Israel of a "pattern" of labeling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence. The Israeli government's decision to send troops into Gaza City has met with mounting domestic and international criticism, with UN agencies warning last month that famine was unfolding in Gaza due to Israel severely restricting aid entry.
As the conflict continues, the international community is calling for an end to the violence and respect for the safety of journalists covering the conflict. The loss of lives such as Anas al-Sharif is a reminder of the dangers faced by journalists in war zones and the importance of upholding the principles of international law.
- The loss of life of Anas al-Sharif, a journalist known for his reporting on the humanitarian crisis and Israeli bombardments in Gaza, has sparked concern over the safety of journalists in war-and-conflicts.
- The international community and human rights groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, have condemned the killing of al-Sharif and other journalists in Gaza as a violation of press freedom and human rights.
- Under the principles of international law, journalists covering armed conflicts are considered civilians and protected persons, yet there is a pattern of labeling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence, creating a dangerous environment for general-news reporting.
