Israel Claims: Al Jazeera Journalist is Compensated by Hamas
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have made a shocking revelation, declassifying information that suggests Anas Al-Sharif, a Palestinian journalist who worked for Al Jazeera, was also a Hamas operative.
According to the IDF, Al-Sharif was described as a Hamas "terrorist" who posed as a journalist while actually serving as a Hamas cell leader responsible for rocket launching. The IDF has released personnel rosters, lists of Hamas terror training courses, phone directories, and salary documents linked to Al-Sharif, supporting their assertion of his dual role.
The IDF stated that the assassination of Al-Sharif on August 10, 2025, was a targeted killing based on intelligence alleging his leadership in Hamas activities. This public claim is unusual in its swiftness and specificity, as such acknowledgments usually come more cautiously, especially when journalists are involved.
However, non-governmental organizations and some media outlets have disputed the claims, stating that working for or advising Hamas does not automatically make one an active combatant under international law.
The IDF's information includes the identification of Al-Sharif as a Hamas cell leader linked to rocket attacks, evidence in the form of personnel and training documents, phone lists, and salary records, and the justification for a targeted airstrike on a media tent where he and other journalists were present.
The question posed by some, "Will anyone criticize Al Jazeera for employing terrorists?" implies a potential employment of terrorists by Al Jazeera. However, it's important to note that the question does not provide any evidence or source for this allegation.
Nadav Shoshani, the international spokesperson of the Israel Defense Forces, questioned whether the world honestly verifies information before reporting and criticized the media for ignoring the information provided by the IDF about Al-Sharif. He also questioned whether there would be criticism for Hamas' exploitation of the press.
The information provided by the IDF was obtained during ground operations in Gaza at two separate locations, according to Shoshani. It's also been revealed that Al-Sharif was simultaneously receiving a salary from Hamas and its sympathizers, as per the IDF.
This represents the most detailed official disclosure from Israel concerning Mohammad (Anas) al-Sharif as an alleged Hamas agent. The question remains whether further evidence will be presented to support or refute these claims.
[1] ANSA, "Israeli forces claim Al Jazeera journalist was Hamas operative," August 11, 2025. [2] IDF Spokesperson, "IDF declassifies information on Anas Al-Sharif," August 11, 2025. [3] Human Rights Watch, "Working for Hamas does not make one an active combatant," August 12, 2025. [4] Al Jazeera, "IDF claims Al Jazeera journalist was Hamas operative," August 11, 2025.
