Israeli aggression towards the media sparks widespread indignation
In the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the tragic death of journalist Anas al-Sharif has sparked international outrage and concerns over press freedom. Al-Sharif, a 28-year-old correspondent for Al-Jazeera, was killed in a targeted Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on August 10, 2025 [1][2][3].
Israel's military claimed that al-Sharif was a leader of a Hamas cell, an accusation that was dismissed by Al-Jazeera and previously by al-Sharif himself [1][3]. The journalist had been reporting on the Israeli bombardment and severe humanitarian conditions in Gaza, including malnutrition, with emotionally impactful reporting [1][3].
The strike that killed al-Sharif and other Al-Jazeera journalists was described by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) as the deadliest single attack on journalists in the Israel-Gaza war to date, with six journalists killed in that August 10 strike alone [1][3]. In total, CPJ documented over 190 journalist and media worker deaths in the wider 2023-2025 conflict period, underscoring the extreme risks Palestinian journalists face [1][3].
The international press freedom community, including CPJ, expressed condemnation and alarm. CPJ criticized Israel's repeated labeling of journalists as militants without credible evidence, calling it a serious threat to press freedom and raising questions about intent [1][2][3]. The UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories also denounced the threats against al-Sharif and related targeting of media professionals [1][2][3].
Five other media professionals were killed in the same attack, and an appeal for solidarity with the journalists of the Gaza Strip was launched by 51 media professionals in Quebec [1]. The European Union and the British Prime Minister's spokesperson have also condemned the attacks on journalists in Gaza [1].
The signatories of the appeal remind that journalists are considered civilians under Article 79 of the Geneva Convention [2]. They call on the Canadian government to pressure the Israeli government to ensure the safety and ability of Palestinian journalists to do their jobs [2]. Investigations are needed to hold those responsible for these attacks accountable [2].
The death of Anas al-Sharif and the ongoing violence in Gaza highlight severe dangers faced by journalists amid the conflict, contested narratives over their roles, and mounting international concern over press freedom violations linked to Israeli military actions.
[1] https://cpj.org/2025/08/israel-must-investigate-deadly-attack-on-al-jazeera-journalists-in-gaza/ [2] https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-signatories-call-on-canadian-government-to-pressure-israel-over-gaza/ [3] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-strikes-gaza-city-kill-al-jazeera-journalist-2025-08-10/
- The tragic death of Anas al-Sharif, a journalist reporting on the war-and-conflicts in Gaza, has raised concerns over crime-and-justice and politics, particularly press freedom, as Israel's military labelled him a militant without credible evidence, causing international outrage.
- In the backdrop of general-news, the international community, including the Committee to Protect Journalists and the United Nations special rapporteur, have criticized Israel's repeated labelling of journalists as militants, stating it's a serious threat to press freedom and questioning intentions, urging investigations and calls for accountability.
