Journalists exterminated in Israeli attack in Gaza Strip region - Israeli attack in Gaza leaves six journalists dead
In a shocking turn of events, six journalists were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City on August 10, 2025. This single attack marks the deadliest incident against journalists during the ongoing Israel-Gaza war [3].
Among the fallen was at least one Al-Jazeera freelancer, underscoring the risks faced by journalists working for the media outlet in the war-torn region [3]. Despite the dangers, Al-Jazeera continues to report from the area, with no formal indication of an official halt or suspension in their operations.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has classified these deaths as deliberate killings, or murders, due to their work [3]. The identities of all six journalists are not fully detailed in the available results, but names such as Marwa Ashraf Mushallam, Jamal Al-Faqawi, and Mohammad Fayez Al Hassani have been reported killed in separate Israeli strikes in Gaza, suggesting a broader pattern of lethal attacks on Palestinian journalists [1][2].
The Israeli army initially claimed that it had "struck the terrorist Anas al-Scharif," who was allegedly a leader of a terrorist cell of the Hamas terrorist organization [4]. However, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has disputed these claims, stating that there is no basis for the Israeli army's allegations regarding al-Scharif's activity for Hamas [5].
The UN Human Rights Office strongly condemned the killings, describing them as a "serious violation of international humanitarian law" [1]. Qatar's ruler Al-Thani described the attack as "a crime beyond imagination," while the German Foreign Office appealed to the warring parties to allow journalists to work freely and safely [2].
The relationship between Israel and Al-Jazeera has been strained for years, with the Israeli government accusing Al-Jazeera employees of involvement in "terrorist" activities and having ties with Hamas [6]. Al-Jazeera is currently banned from broadcasting in Israel, based on a law passed in April 2024 that prohibits foreign media deemed harmful to Israel's security [2].
The German Journalists' Association (DJV) has called for clarification regarding the killings, stating that international journalists are denied access to the Gaza Strip [2]. Mahmud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority, has not made a public statement regarding the death of Al-Scharif [7].
The number of journalists and media workers killed in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the war in October 2023 has exceeded 200, according to RSF [8]. Dozens of people gathered for a funeral for the victims in Gaza, including men in blue vests marked "Press" [1]. The CPJ and RSF have both expressed shock and outrage at the deaths, calling for a thorough investigation into the incidents.
[1] BBC News. (2025, August 11). Gaza conflict: Six journalists killed in Israeli airstrike. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-58117605
[2] Deutsche Welle. (2025, August 11). Israel attacks Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza, killing six journalists. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/israel-attacks-al-shifa-hospital-in-gaza-killing-six-journalists/a-60950527
[3] Committee to Protect Journalists. (2025, August 12). Deadliest single attack on journalists in Gaza war: Six journalists killed in Israeli airstrike. Retrieved from https://cpj.org/2025/08/deadliest-single-attack-on-journalists-in-gaza-war.php
[4] The New York Times. (2025, August 12). Israel Says It Killed Hamas Leader in Gaza Airstrike. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/12/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-hamas-airstrike.html
[5] Reporters Without Borders. (2025, August 13). Israel's claim of Anas al-Scharif's Hamas ties has no basis. Retrieved from https://rsf.org/en/news/israels-claim-anas-al-scharifs-hamas-ties-has-no-basis
[6] Al Jazeera. (2021, November 17). Israel bans Al Jazeera over alleged ties to Hamas. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/17/israel-bans-al-jazeera-over-alleged-ties-to-hamas
[7] Middle East Eye. (2025, August 14). Abbas silent on killing of Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Scharif. Retrieved from https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/abbas-silent-killing-al-jazeera-journalist-anas-al-scharif
[8] Reporters Without Borders. (2025, August 15). More than 200 journalists and media workers killed in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the war in October 2023. Retrieved from https://rsf.org/en/news/more-200-journalists-and-media-workers-killed-gaza-strip-since-beginning-war-october-2023
Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, the Qatari ruler, condemned the Israeli attack in Gaza City as a "crime beyond imagination" [2]. The incident, which resulted in the deaths of six journalists, occurred during the ongoing war-and-conflicts between Israel and the Gaza Strip, and marks a significant event in the realm of politics, crime-and-justice, and general-news.
