5 Al Jazeera journalists have been killed in an Israeli strike close to Gaza Metropolis’s Al-Shifa Hospital, the broadcaster has mentioned.
Correspondents Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh, alongside cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa have been in a tent for journalists on the hospital’s principal gate when it was focused, Al Jazeera reported.
The “focused assassination” on Sunday was “yet one more blatant and premeditated assault on press freedom”, it mentioned in an announcement.
Shortly after the strike, the IDF confirmed that it had focused Anas al-Sharif, writing in a Telegram put up that he had “served as the top of a terrorist cell in Hamas”.
The IDF didn’t point out any of the opposite journalists who have been killed.
In whole, seven folks died within the strike, Al Jazeera reviews. The broadcaster initially mentioned that 4 of its workers had been killed, however revised it to 5 a couple of hours later.
Its managing editor, Mohamed Moawad, informed the BBC that al-Sharif was an accredited journalist who was “the one voice” for the world to know what was occurring within the Gaza Strip.
All through the struggle, Israel has not allowed worldwide journalists into Gaza to report freely. Due to this fact, many retailers depend on native reporters inside the territory for protection.
“They have been focused of their tent, they weren’t protecting from the entrance line,” Moawad mentioned of the Israeli strike.
“The very fact is that the Israeli authorities is eager to silence the protection of any channel of reporting from inside Gaza,” he informed The Newsroom programme.
“That is one thing that I have never seen earlier than in fashionable historical past.”
Al-Sharif, 28, gave the impression to be posting on X within the moments earlier than his dying, warning of intense Israeli bombardment inside Gaza Metropolis. A put up that was printed after he was reported to have died seems to have been pre-written and printed by a buddy.
In two graphic movies of the aftermath of the strike, which have been confirmed by BBC Confirm, males could be seen carrying the our bodies of those that have been killed.
Some shout out Qreiqeh’s identify, and a person sporting a media vest says that one of many our bodies is that of al-Sharif.
In its assertion, the IDF accused al-Sharif of posing as a journalist, and being “liable for advancing rocket assaults in opposition to Israeli civilians and IDF troops”
It mentioned it had beforehand “disclosed intelligence” confirming his army affiliation, which included “lists of terrorist coaching programs”.
Final month, the Al Jazeera Media Community – together with the United Nations and the Committee to Shield Journalists (CPJ) – issued separate statements warning that al-Sharif’s life was at risk, and calling for his safety.
Jodie Ginsberg, chief government of the CPJ, informed the BBC that Israeli authorities have failed to supply proof to indicate that the journalists they killed have been terrorists.
“It is a sample we have seen from Israel – not simply within the present struggle, however within the a long time previous – wherein usually a journalist will likely be killed by Israeli forces after which Israel will say after the truth that they’re a terrorist, however supplies little or no proof to again up these claims,” she mentioned.
This isn’t the primary time the IDF has focused and killed Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza, who they claimed have been Hamas-affiliated.
In August final 12 months, Ismael Al-Ghoul was hit by an air strike as he sat in his automotive – harrowing video shared on social media confirmed his decapitated physique. Cameraman, Rami al-Rifi, and a boy passing on a bicycle have been additionally killed.
In al-Ghoul’s case, the IDF mentioned he took half in Hamas’ 7 October 2023 assaults in opposition to Israel, a declare Al Jazeera strongly rejected.
Based on the CPJ, 186 journalists have been confirmed killed for the reason that begin of Israel’s army offensive in Gaza in October 2023.
Further reporting by Shayan Sardarizadeh, BBC Confirm
