Journalists from Al Jazeera slain by Israel in Gaza: a review of their identities
Al Jazeera Journalist Anas Al-Sharif Killed in Israeli Airstrike in Gaza
Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al-Sharif, a 28-year-old Palestinian from Gaza's Jabalia refugee camp, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on August 10, 2025. The attack targeted a media tent outside Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, also claiming the lives of several colleagues.
Born on December 3, 1996, Al-Sharif graduated with a degree in mass communication from Al Aqsa University. Throughout his career, he was known for his courageous frontline reporting from Gaza during the Israeli-Gaza war that started in October 2023.
Al-Sharif was widely regarded as one of Gaza's most recognizable voices, often filming from dangerously close to conflict zones with only his camera and press vest. His coverage was seen as vital for holding the Israeli government accountable for alleged atrocities, a role that placed him at high personal risk.
The Israeli military accused Al-Sharif of being a Hamas fighter and leading a militant cell, but major international media and press freedom organizations have strongly questioned the evidence and condemned the attack as a deliberate targeting of journalists. Al-Jazeera, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and Al Jazeera itself have consistently denied these claims.
Al-Sharif’s death highlighted the extreme dangers faced by journalists in the conflict. As of August 5, at least 234 journalists had been killed in Gaza during the war, including 10 staff members from Al Jazeera.
Al-Sharif was posthumously honored by Al Jazeera and human rights groups for his commitment to journalism under dire conditions. He was buried in Sheikh Radwan Cemetery in Gaza City after a widely attended funeral.
Before joining Al Jazeera, Al-Sharif is believed to have volunteered at the Al Shamal Media Network. He was part of a Reuters news agency team that won a Pulitzer Prize in 2024 in the category of breaking news photography for their coverage of the Gaza conflict.
In his last will and testament, Al-Sharif wrote that Israel had succeeded in killing him and silencing his voice. Al Jazeera's director of news, Salah Negm, stated that the IDF's statement was a "confession of guilt" and that they are targeting journalists for confirming what is happening in Gaza. Jodie Ginsberg, the chief executive of the CPJ, stated that Israel has never provided credible evidence to support their claims against Al-Sharif.
Al-Sharif's death marked the first time during the war that Israel's military has immediately claimed responsibility after a member of the press was killed in a strike. Al Jazeera condemned the killing of five of its employees and called on the international community to take decisive measures to halt the ongoing genocide and end the deliberate targeting of journalists.
Al-Sharif is survived by his wife and two children, Salah and Sham. The IDF's claims against Al-Sharif were first published in October 2024, and they alleged that he had long-standing links to Hamas or Islamic Jihad. However, Al Jazeera continued to reject these assertions after his death, calling them a "baseless fabrication."
[1] Al Jazeera English (2025, August 11). Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al-Sharif killed in Israeli airstrike in Gaza. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/11/al-jazeera-journalist-anas-al-sharif-killed-in-israeli-airstrike-in-gaza
[2] Committee to Protect Journalists (2025, August 11). Israeli military kills Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al-Sharif in Gaza. Retrieved from https://cpj.org/2025/08/israeli-military-kills-al-jazeera-journalist-anas-al-sharif-in-gaza.php
[3] Reuters (2025, August 11). Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al-Sharif killed in Israeli airstrike in Gaza. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/al-jazeera-journalist-anas-al-sharif-killed-israeli-airstrike-gaza-2025-08-11/
[4] BBC News (2025, August 11). Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al-Sharif killed in Israeli airstrike in Gaza. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-58247638
[5] Al Jazeera English (2025, August 12). Anas Al-Sharif: Remembering the life and legacy of the Al Jazeera journalist. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2025/8/12/anas-al-sharif-remembering-the-life-and-legacy-of-the-al-jazeera-journalist
- The death of Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al-Sharif in an Israeli airstrike during the ongoing conflict in Gaza serves as a stark reminder of the dangerous escalation of war-related violence against reporters.
- The alleged targeting of Al-Sharif, a recognized journalist known for his coverage of the Israeli-Gaza war, raises concerns over the politicization of journalism and the intentional silencing of vocal critics through warfare.
- The escalating conflict in Gaza, marked by frequent clashes, stated allegations of atrocities, and the increasing numbers of journalist fatalities, underscores the urgency for international intervention to uphold general-news freedom and protect the lives of those documenting the events on the ground.
