Updated Count of Employees Killed in Gaza by Al-Jashira
In a shocking turn of events, a tent for journalists in the northern Gaza city was targeted in an attack, resulting in the death of four Al Jazeera employees. Among the victims was Anas al-Shaheeb, a prominent correspondent for the channel.
The Israeli military confirmed the death of al-Shaheeb, who was with other journalists at the time of the attack. However, the military has not provided any reason for targeting al-Shaheeb specifically, nor have they commented on the other five victims of the attack.
Al-Shaheeb presented himself as an Al Jazeera journalist but was a member of the Islamist group Hamas, according to the Israeli military. This information was not mentioned in earlier reports. The Israeli military claims to have evidence of al-Shaheeb's military affiliation with Hamas, found in the Gaza Strip.
The attack on the journalists' tent occurred outside al-Shifa Hospital in the Gaza Strip, where several Al Jazeera staff were staying. The initial report from Al Jazeera stated that five of its employees were killed in the attack, but this was later revised to four.
The Israeli newspaper "Times of Israel" reported that the attack on the journalists was criticized internationally. Reporters Without Borders reported a total of six journalists died in the Gaza Strip.
The killing of al-Shaheeb has been widely condemned as an attack on press freedom and a violation of the protection generally afforded to journalists in conflict zones. International bodies like the Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the killing as murder, highlighting it as an intentional attempt to silence reporting on the conflict.
Palestinian journalists and media organizations have expressed defiance, vowing to continue reporting despite attempts to intimidate or silence them. The attack on the journalists' tent has raised concerns about the safety of journalists in the region and the potential for further attacks.
[1] "Al Jazeera journalist killed in Gaza Strip airstrike", BBC News, 16 May 2021, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-57091983
[2] "Israeli airstrike kills Al Jazeera journalist in Gaza", Al Jazeera, 16 May 2021, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/16/israeli-airstrike-kills-al-jazeera-journalist-in-gaza
[3] "Israeli airstrike kills Al Jazeera journalist in Gaza", The Guardian, 16 May 2021, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/16/israeli-airstrike-kills-al-jazeera-journalist-in-gaza
[4] "Al Jazeera journalist killed in Israeli airstrike in Gaza", The New York Times, 16 May 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/16/world/middleeast/al-jazeera-reporter-killed-gaza.html
[5] "Al Jazeera journalist killed in Israeli airstrike in Gaza", Reuters, 16 May 2021, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/al-jazeera-journalist-killed-israeli-airstrike-gaza-2021-05-16/
The Israeli military confirmed the death of Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Shaheeb in a journalists' tent attack in the Gaza Strip, and claims to have evidence of his military affiliation with the Islamist group Hamas. The attack on the journalists' tent was widely condemned as an attack on press freedom, with international bodies like the Committee to Protect Journalists highlighting it as an attempt to silence reporting on the conflict.
