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Middle East Eye
an hour ago
- Middle East Eye
Israeli media praise killing of Palestinian journalist Anas al-Sharif
"It's about time," wrote Daphna Liel, a senior journalist at Israel's Channel 12 News, on her Telegram page on Sunday night. "The IDF killed the terrorist who operated under the guise of an Al Jazeera journalist," her report said, referring to the Israeli army. The picture of Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif was attached. The killing of Sharif on Sunday has provoked outrage from press freedom groups and other media outlets - but in Israel, the response by most of the media has seemingly been that Sharif, in fact, had it coming. Ynet described Sharif as "the reporter-terrorist who was assassinated", Maariv newspaper said he was "a journalist in the service of Hamas", and Israel Hayom wrote that he was "a terrorist disguised as a journalist". New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters On Sunday night, the Israeli military announced that it had attacked a journalists' tent near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Sharif, who was one of the most prominent journalists covering Israel's assault on Gaza, was the target of the attack. In addition to Sharif, six other Palestinians were killed in the attack, including Al Jazeera correspondent and Middle East Eye contributor Mohammed Qreiqeh as well as camera operators Mohammed Noufal, Ibrahim Zaher and Moamen Aliwa. "The Israeli media's response to the killing of the journalists was frightening," Zahra Saeed, a Palestinian journalist at Radio Al-Shams, told MEE. "Amit Segal [a senior journalist at Channel 12 News] wrote on his Telegram account that he was waiting for this assassination, it's unbelievable. He is part of the Israeli apparatus of incitement against journalists." 'Murder. Plain and simple' The Israeli attack on Sunday was condemned around the world. Sara Qudah, regional director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, said: "Israel wiped out an entire news crew. It has made no claims that any of the other journalists were terrorists. That's murder. Plain and simple." The war in Gaza is the deadliest conflict for journalists since such data began to be collected. Since the beginning of the war, Israel has killed 270 journalists and media workers. The Israeli army spokesperson claimed it had documents indicating that Sharif was active in Hamas, but did not produce the evidence. 'The Israeli media plays a central role in the genocide in Gaza, whether actively or silently' - Hanin Majadli, Haaretz Hanin Majadli, a Palestinian journalist who writes for Haaretz, told MEE that Israeli media were actively trying to misrepresent the current situation as normal. "The Israeli media is an inseparable part of the Israeli apparatus, which also includes the government, the military, and the public, which commits crimes in Gaza," Majadli said. "The Israeli media plays a central role in the genocide in Gaza, whether actively or silently." Right-wing journalist Yinon Magal of Channel 14 criticised a demonstration by Palestinians in Umm al-Fahm, in northern Israel, "for the 'journalist'-terrorist, Anas al-Sharif". Saeed said there was effectively no difference between the mainstream media and the far-right media regarding the coverage of the assassination of Sharif. "Anyone who asks questions and casts doubts finds himself under attack and outside the national consensus. He is labelled a traitor," she told MEE. "The Israeli crimes in Gaza are justified in the mainstream media, just as they are in the extreme right media outlets," Majadli said. "There is no justification for the assassination of Anas al-Sharif. According to Israeli logic, Israeli journalists are also legitimate targets - while an Israeli journalist called for the killing of 100,000 Gazans and another blew up houses in Lebanon, they are considered professional journalists." 'Hunt down Arabs' Journalists in Israel that condemned the attack faced criticism of their own. Majadli and Saeed said they received abuse while expressing their views on the assassination of Sharif. Saeed said that a post on her Instagram account lamenting the killing of Sharif was translated into Hebrew and led to incitement. According to Saeed, the purpose of translating the post was to "hunt down Arabs", adding that this is what happens "when a Palestinian journalist in Israel wants to express her opinion". Exclusive: MPs urge UK to disclose if it holds spy plane footage of Israel's journalist killings Read More » "All of our journalistic work has been reduced to whether you are for or against terrorism. Asking questions beyond the borders of the IDF spokesperson is considered a crime," Saeed said, adding that "it is dangerous to be a journalist in Israel as well, not only in Gaza". "In Israel, the equation is very simple - the Palestinians are terrorists," Majadli said. "A Palestinian journalist who speaks out against the killing of Anas al-Sharif is considered an encourager of terrorism, a sympathiser of terrorism, or an inciter to terrorism. "There is no journalistic space in Israel. The vast majority of Palestinians in Israel can't even say about Anas al-Sharif 'may Allah have mercy on him'." "The incitement against Palestinian journalists is open, it is the norm, it is urgent," Majadli said. "The incitement is here to stay for a long time. In Israel, the Palestinians need to know that they have to keep their mouths shut."
Middle East Eye
an hour ago
- Middle East Eye
Legal groups file complaint against UK Lawyers for Israel director over alleged ethics breaches
Two legal advocacy organisations have filed a formal complaint with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) against the director of UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI). Public Interest Law Centre (PILC) and the European Legal Support Centre (ELSC) accused Caroline Turner, a solicitor and UKLFI's director, in a 114-page report of breaching professional standards and engaging in unregulated legal work to suppress solidarity with Palestine. The complaint, which was filed on 5 August and made public on 13 August, alleges Turner has violated the SRA's Principles and Code of Conduct, including through the use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), which are legal threats designed to deter free expression on matters of public interest. PILC and ELSC want the SRA to investigate whether UKLFI, which is not regulated under any UK legal regulatory body, is in effect operating as a law firm, and to bring it under formal regulatory oversight. According to the groups, between January 2022 and May 2025, UKLFI sent at least eight threatening letters to individuals and organisations engaged in Palestine solidarity work. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The letters, shared with the complainants by the recipients, allegedly show a pattern of "vexatious and legally baseless" correspondence aimed at silencing campaigners, academics and civil society groups. "UKLFI is actively suppressing solidarity with Palestine," a representative for the ELSC told Middle East Eye. Charity watchdog investigating UK Lawyers for Israel's charitable trust Read More » "Our research documents how their threatening letters have triggered concrete reprisals - workers disciplined or fired, reputations smeared, and events cancelled under pressure. "This is a systematic strategy to criminalise solidarity with Palestine and shield genocide complicity," they said. "This complaint is a demand for accountability," they added PILC solicitor Paul Heron said: "No solicitor is above the SRA's regulatory framework. We are calling for a full investigation into their conduct and into UKLFI as an organisation that effectively acts as a law firm. "The SRA has a duty to uphold professional standards and protect civil society from intimidation dressed up as law." A history of legal threats Founded in 2011, UKLFI describes its mission as "countering the delegitimisation of Israel" and opposing the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. It is incorporated as a company limited by guarantee and operates alongside a registered charitable arm, UKLFI Charitable Trust. Neither entity is regulated by the SRA, meaning their activities are not subject to the same oversight as a law firm. UKLFI's work frequently involves sending legal complaints or warning letters to institutions and individuals involved in pro-Palestine activity. The Hind Rajab Foundation: Pursuing Israeli soldiers worldwide for Gaza war crimes Read More » Since October 2023, the group has led campaigns against expressions of support for Palestine: filing legal letters to Tower Hamlets council over Palestine flags on lampposts, pressuring music festivals to ban Irish rap group Kneecap, threatening ICC prosecutor Karim Khan KC for pursuing legal action against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and even threatening a judicial review against the UK government for suspending some arms licences to Israel. The last threat prompted the resignation of UKLFI patron Lord Carlile. Critics say UKLFI's tactics amount to "lawfare" - the use of legal mechanisms to achieve political objectives by silencing or intimidating opponents. In May 2025, human rights group Cage International accused UKLFI of contributing to a "wave of repression" against Palestine advocates by targeting academics, charities and campaign groups. In June, campaigners Led By Donkeys released a short film alleging UKLFI was systematically pressuring venues, employers and regulators to act against those supporting Palestinian rights. The scrutiny has intensified. In July, MEE revealed that the UK Charity Commission had opened an investigation into UKLFI's charitable wing after receiving complaints from Cage and Led By Donkeys. The SLAPPs debate SLAPPs have become a growing concern in the UK, with press freedom organisations warning they are used to deter journalists, campaigners and NGOs from speaking on matters of public interest. In 2024, the government introduced anti-SLAPP provisions in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, but campaigners argue the protections remain weak and do not adequately cover cases outside financial crime. The ELSC and PILC claim that UKLFI's correspondence fits the SLAPP pattern, using the prospect of costly legal battles to chill debate and discourage public participation. Exclusive: MPs urge UK to disclose if it holds spy plane footage of Israel's journalist killings Read More » UKLFI's letters often cite its "patrons and members", describing them as "some of the most distinguished members of the UK legal profession" and naming regulated solicitors and barristers. The complainants argue that this creates a misleading impression of official regulatory oversight, potentially breaching SRA Principle 2 (upholding public trust) and Code of Conduct 8.8 (accuracy in publicity). "The SRA must step in," Heron said. "Without regulatory intervention, groups like UKLFI will continue to use these tactics to suppress conversation about war crimes and crimes against humanity and to silence those who speak out against Israel." The SRA has not yet commented on the complaint, but a spokesperson told MEE they would investigate any complaint made. MEE reached out to UKLFI for comment but did not receive a response by time of publication. UKLFI has previously rejected claims that it seeks to stifle legitimate debate, insisting that its work is focused on countering antisemitism and the misrepresentation of Israel.
Middle East Eye
an hour ago
- Middle East Eye
Elbit strikes $1.64bn deal with unnamed European country: Report
The Times of Israel is reporting that Israeli military company Elbit Systems has inked a five-year contract worth $1.64bn to supply long-range precision strike artillery-rocket systems and unmanned aerial vehicles to an unnamed European country. According to the report, the country ordered a suite of AI-powered unmanned aerial combat systems, including personally operated drones for tactical and operational use. Under the deal, Elbit will supply long-range precision artillery rockets, and defence products equipped with its advanced intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance capabilities, known as ISTAR, as well as communications and signal intelligence systems.
