Who have been the Al Jazeera journalists killed by Israel in Gaza?

[ad_1] "A journalist for the folks in Gaza": Al Jazeera's managing editor's tribute to Anas al-Sharif

5 Al Jazeera journalists have been killed by an Israeli strike in Gaza Metropolis on Sunday - amongst them 28-year-old correspondent Anas al-Sharif, who had reported prominently on the conflict since its outset.

The opposite 4 Al Jazeera journalists killed have been correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh, cameramen Ibrahim Zaher and Moamen Aliwa, and crew driver and cameraman Mohammed Noufal, Al Jazeera stated.

Two others have been additionally killed, the broadcaster stated. Hospital officers named Mohammed al-Khaldi, a neighborhood freelance journalist, as one in every of them.

The focused assault on a tent utilized by journalists has drawn robust worldwide condemnation together with from the UN, Qatar the place Al Jazeera relies, and media freedom teams.

Israel says Sharif was "the pinnacle of a Hamas terrorist cell" however has produced little proof to assist that. Sharif beforehand denied it, and Al Jazeera and media rights teams have rejected the allegation. The IDF has stated nothing concerning the different journalists it killed.

The BBC understands Sharif labored for a Hamas media group in Gaza earlier than the present battle.

In a few of his social media posts earlier than his loss of life, the journalist may be heard criticising Hamas.

Committee for the Safety of Journalists CEO Jodie Ginsberg instructed the BBC there was no justification for Sharif's killing.

"Worldwide regulation could be very clear on this level that the one people who're reputable targets throughout a conflict are energetic combatants. Having labored as a media advisor for Hamas, or certainly for Hamas at present, doesn't make you an energetic combatant", she stated.

"And nothing that the Israeli forces has produced to this point by way of proof offers us any form of assurance that he was even an energetic member of Hamas."

The 'solely voice' left in Gaza Metropolis

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/bafc/live/8979bca0-76aa-11f0-8155-5f8739f897b4.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/bafc/live/8979bca0-76aa-11f0-8155-5f8739f897b4.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/bafc/live/8979bca0-76aa-11f0-8155-5f8739f897b4.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/bafc/live/8979bca0-76aa-11f0-8155-5f8739f897b4.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/bafc/live/8979bca0-76aa-11f0-8155-5f8739f897b4.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/bafc/live/8979bca0-76aa-11f0-8155-5f8739f897b4.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/bafc/live/8979bca0-76aa-11f0-8155-5f8739f897b4.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/bafc/live/8979bca0-76aa-11f0-8155-5f8739f897b4.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="AFP via Getty Images Anas al-Sharif stands wearing a "press" vest and holding a helmet in one hand as he surveys the destruction done to buildings around him in Gaza City. To his left is a huge pile of rubble and debris. " class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> AFP through Getty Pictures Anas al-Sharif was one of many few voices left reporting in Gaza Metropolis, in response to Al Jazeera

Anas al-Sharif grew to become one in every of Al Jazeera's most distinguished reporters in Gaza through the conflict.

Born within the densely populated Jabalia space within the north of the Strip, he labored for Al Jazeera for about two years, the broadcaster stated.

"He labored for the entire size of the conflict inside Gaza reporting day by day on the state of affairs of individuals and the assaults that are dedicated in Gaza," Salah Negm, director of stories at Al Jazeera English, instructed the BBC.

Married with a four-year-old daughter, Sham, and a one-year-old son, Salah, he was separated from them for lengthy stretches through the conflict whereas he continued to report from the north of the territory after refusing to observe Israeli evacuation orders.

A joint Instagram submit on his official account alongside together with his spouse's in January this 12 months confirmed an image of Sharif smiling together with his two youngsters. The caption stated it was the primary time he was assembly Salah, after 15 months of conflict.

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Sharif appeared continuously in dwell broadcasts, reporting extensively on the state of affairs in Gaza.

He reported on the concentrating on of his colleagues, together with distinguished Al Jazeera correspondent Ismail al-Ghoul and cameraman Rami al-Rifi, who have been killed in 2024 in an air strike in Gaza Metropolis.

His father had already been killed in December 2023 when the household house was focused in an Israeli strike. Hours earlier than he himself was killed, he posted about an intense Israeli bombardment of Gaza Metropolis.

Mohamed Moawad, Al Jazeera's managing editor, described him because the "solely voice left in Gaza Metropolis" - which Israel now plans to militarily occupy.

Raed Fakih, enter supervisor at Al Jazeera's Arabic-language channel, instructed the BBC Sharif was "brave, devoted, and trustworthy - that is what made him profitable as a journalist with a whole bunch of 1000's of social media followers from all around the world".

Fakih, who's answerable for the channel's bureaux and correspondents, added: "His dedication took him to areas the place no different reporter ventured to go, particularly those who witnessed the worst massacres. His integrity stored him true to his message as a journalist."

Fakih stated he spoke to Sharif many instances on the cellphone all through the conflict.

"In our final conversations, he instructed me concerning the famine and hunger he was enduring, about how exhausting it's to outlive with so little meals," he stated.

"He felt he had no selection however to amplify the voice of the Gazans. He was dwelling the identical hardships they're dwelling now, affected by famine, mourning family members.

"His father was killed in an Israeli bombing. In that approach, he was like all Gazans: carrying loss, ache, and resilience. And even within the face of loss of life, he endured, as a result of this can be a story that have to be instructed."

Who have been the opposite journalists killed?

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/fe78/live/0fba5720-7773-11f0-a97f-3f8d4bbdf2d8.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/fe78/live/0fba5720-7773-11f0-a97f-3f8d4bbdf2d8.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/fe78/live/0fba5720-7773-11f0-a97f-3f8d4bbdf2d8.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/fe78/live/0fba5720-7773-11f0-a97f-3f8d4bbdf2d8.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/fe78/live/0fba5720-7773-11f0-a97f-3f8d4bbdf2d8.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/fe78/live/0fba5720-7773-11f0-a97f-3f8d4bbdf2d8.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/fe78/live/0fba5720-7773-11f0-a97f-3f8d4bbdf2d8.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/fe78/live/0fba5720-7773-11f0-a97f-3f8d4bbdf2d8.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="EPA/Shutterstock A poster of journalists Anas al-Sharif, Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, Moamen Aliwa and Mohammed Qreieh being held up in someone's hands." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> EPA/Shutterstock The 5 Al Jazeera journalists have been amongst seven killed by an Israeli strike whereas resting in a tent for journalists in Gaza Metropolis on Sunday, Al Jazeera stated

Mohammed Qreiqeh, 33, was a father of two from Gaza Metropolis. Like Sharif, he was separated from his household for months through the conflict as he reported from the entrance traces in northern Gaza.

Qreiqeh's final dwell broadcast was on Sunday night, minutes earlier than he was focused, Al Jazeera reported.

The broadcaster stated his mom was killed in March 2024 when Israeli forces raided al-Shifa hospital in Gaza Metropolis. He discovered his mom after trying to find her physique for 2 weeks, it stated.

His brother was additionally killed in an Israeli air strike on Gaza Metropolis in March, Al Jazeera stated.

Al Araby TV correspondent Islam Bader, who additionally studies from Gaza, stated he had labored with Qreiqeh for years. In a submit on Instagram he described Qreiqeh as having a "very calm" soul.

Cameraman Ibrahim Zaher, 25, was additionally from Jabalia, in response to Al Jazeera. Bader stated he had been a journalist from the start of the conflict, whereas additionally volunteering with medical providers.

Cameraman Moamen Aliwa was described as "pleasant, useful, variety, well mannered" by Bader. He wrote on Instagram Aliwa had initially studied engineering however through the conflict grew to become a journalist.

Mohammed Noufal, described as each a cameraman and crew driver by Al Jazeera, was additionally from Jabalia. The information outlet stated the 29-year-old's mom and brother have been killed by Israeli assaults earlier within the conflict.

Freelance journalist Mohammed al-Khaldi posted quite a lot of movies on social media documenting his life and that of others in war-torn Gaza. His final video posted on Instagram over the weekend confirmed an eight-year-old lady talking about her wrestle with starvation, and he appealed for his followers to assist her.

Israel alleges Sharif led 'terrorist cell', with little proof

The Israeli army accused Sharif of posing as a journalist, saying he had "served as the pinnacle of a terrorist cell in Hamas" and was accountable for launching rocket assaults at Israelis - nevertheless it has produced little proof to assist these claims.

In a press release, the IDF stated it had paperwork which "unequivocally show" his "army affiliation" with Hamas, together with "personnel rosters, lists of terrorist coaching programs, cellphone directories, and wage paperwork".

It has publicly launched some screenshots of spreadsheets apparently itemizing Hamas operatives from the northern Gaza Strip, noting accidents to Hamas operatives and a bit of what's stated to be a cellphone listing for the armed group's East Jabalia battalion.

Israel had beforehand accused Sharif of being a member of Hamas's army wing - one thing he and his employer strongly denied.

Reporters With out Borders (RSF), a media freedom group, stated the allegations towards him have been "baseless" and known as on the worldwide neighborhood to intervene.

"With out robust motion from the worldwide neighborhood to cease the Israeli military... we're prone to witness extra such extrajudicial murders of media professionals," RSF stated.

Almost 200 journalists have been killed within the conflict Israel launched in response to Hamas's October 7, 2023 assault, in response to RSF.

Fakih from Al Jazeera accused the Israeli army of fabricating tales about journalists earlier than killing them, to "disguise what [it] is committing in Gaza". Israel has beforehand denied concentrating on journalists.

He described this as a "longstanding sample" and referred to the Israeli army's killing of veteran Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Aqla, who was shot within the head throughout an Israeli military raid within the occupied West Financial institution in 2022.

The Israeli army concluded that one in every of its troopers in all probability killed her, however known as her loss of life unintentional. Al Jazeera stated its proof confirmed it was a "deliberate killing".

"Right here is an important reality: had Israel been held accountable for Shireen's assassination, it will not have dared to kill 200 journalists in Gaza," stated Fakih.

Sharif knew he risked being focused by Israel after its Arabic-language spokesman posted a video of him in July and accused him of being a member of Hamas' army wing.

In a submit printed on his X account, which was prewritten within the occasion of his loss of life, Sharif stated he "gave each effort and all my power to be a assist and a voice for my folks... Don't forget Gaza."