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The Guardian
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Israel is wiping out Gaza's journalists – and it's no longer even hiding it
Israel always boasted that it was the only country in the region to support press freedom. That boast rang hollow even before the current war. Now, it's not even pretending. On Sunday, Israel openly and brazenly killed six journalists as they were sheltering in a tent that housed reporters and media workers. Israel accuses one of those journalists – Al Jazeera's Anas al-Sharif – of being a terrorist. It has not said what crime it believes the others have committed that would justify killing them. The laws of war are clear: journalists are civilians. To target them deliberately in war is to commit a war crime. It is hardly surprising that Israel believes it can get away with murder. In the two decades preceding 7 October, Israeli forces killed 20 journalists. No one has ever been held accountable for any of those deaths, including that of the Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, whose killing in 2022 sent shock waves through the region. Abu Akleh, a dual US-Palestinian citizen, was a household name in the Middle East, just as al-Sharif became a familiar face for audiences for his coverage of Israel's assault on Gaza. Israel first began making threats against al-Sharif shortly after the start of the war. The journalist reported receiving multiple phone calls from officers in the Israeli army instructing him to cease coverage and leave northern Gaza, as well as voice notes on WhatsApp disclosing his location. In December 2023, an Israeli airstrike hit his family home, killing the journalist's 90-year-old father. A year later, the Israeli army alleged publicly that Anas al-Sharif was a terrorist – claims it repeated last month shortly after Anas al-Sharif exposed the rampant levels of starvation throughout Gaza as a result of Israel's refusal to allow in sufficient food aid. An Israeli spokesperson accused al-Sharif of lying about the famine – despite corroboration of widespread starvation by independent and international groups. The Committee to Protect Journalists had seen this playbook from Israel before: a pattern in which journalists are accused by Israel of being terrorists with no credible evidence. Indeed, we were so concerned that al-Sharif was being targeted that we issued a public statement urging his protection. Instead, al-Sharif was killed alongside his colleagues in an attack that Israel has openly admitted was aimed at killing the journalist. Al-Sharif is the 184th Palestinian journalist to have been killed by Israel since the start of the war and one of at least 26 journalists whom CPJ believes to have been deliberately targeted for their work as journalists. The others have certainly been killed by Israel but whether Israel did so in full knowledge they were journalists we have not been able to determine. Israel denies it deliberately targets journalists. But the evidence shows otherwise. To date, Israel has provided no independently verifiable evidence that any of the journalists whom it has admitted deliberately targeting were terrorists. In one case, that of the Al Jazeera journalist Ismail al-Ghoul, the documents produced allegedly showed that al-Ghoul became the leader of a Hamas battalion – when he was 10 years old. The documents Israel has shared on al-Sharif, which it posted on X, show al-Sharif as receiving a Hamas salary in 2023. The documents do not provide evidence that he was an active member of the terrorist group although Israel said it had 'current intelligence' – which it did not publish – indicating al-Sharif was an active Hamas military wing operative. It is no wonder that Israel is now so confident about killing journalists that it can admit to killing six journalists and media workers while only one was allegedly its target. The international community has been woeful in its condemnation of Israel's actions. And that includes our own journalism community. Whereas the Committee to Protect Journalists received significant offers of support and solidarity when journalists were being killed in Ukraine at the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, the reaction from international media over the killings of our journalist colleagues in Gaza at the start of the war was muted at best. In some high-profile killings – such as that of the Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah – some governments trotted out well-worn defences of press freedom, but stopped well short of seriously censuring Israel. And few took any concrete steps – such as the halt of arms sales or the suspension of trade agreements – that might have forced Israel to change course. Now, with more than 192 journalists and media workers killed since the start of the war – the deadliest conflict for journalists that we have ever documented – condemnation from individual journalists and some newsrooms has grown more vocal. But it is hard to see, if Israel can wipe out an entire news crew without the international community so much as batting an eye, what will stop further attacks on reporters. Already our window into Gaza was becoming more and more limited. As Israel moves into the latest phase of its assault on the territory, it now risks closing altogether. Jodie Ginsberg is CEO of the Committee to Protect Journalists
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
UN condemns targeted Israeli attack that killed four Al Jazeera journalists
The UN's human rights office has condemned a targeted Israeli attack that killed six journalists in Gaza, calling it a grave breach of international law. Four Al Jazeera journalists, including correspondent Anas al-Sharif, were killed in an Israeli air strike on Sunday. Three others were killed, including two freelance journalist, the broadcaster said. Israel's military said it targeted Sharif, alleging he had "served as the head of a terrorist cell in Hamas" - something Sharif denied. Israel provided little evidence. The BBC understands Sharif did some work with a Hamas media team in Gaza before the current war. In social media posts before his death, the journalist is heard criticising Hamas. Follow live - Israel kills prominent Al Jazeera journalist and four colleagues in targeted attack in Gaza Media rights groups and countries including Qatar condemned the attack. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's spokesman said the UK government was "gravely concerned" and called for an independent investigation. Speaking to reporters, Starmer's official spokesman said Israel should ensure journalists can work safely and report without fear. The funerals of Sharif, fellow Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh, and cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and freelance cameraman Moamen Aliwa took place on Monday following the targeted missile strike on their tent in Gaza City. Al Jazeera initially said five of its journalists were killed by Israel, but revised this to four on Tuesday. Mohammad al-Khaldi was named by medics at al-Shifa hospital as the sixth journalist who was killed during the strike, Reuters news agency reported. Another person was also killed in the attack, it said. Streets in Gaza were thronged with crowds gathered for the funerals. Anas al-Sharif was a household name who had millions of followers online. Reporters Without Borders, a media freedom group, strongly condemned what it called the assassination of Sharif. The Foreign Press Association said it was outraged by the targeted killing. It said the Israeli military had repeatedly labelled Palestinian journalists "as militants, often without verifiable evidence". The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said it was appalled by the attack and that Israel had failed to provide evidence to back up its allegations against Sharif. "Israel has a longstanding, documented pattern of accusing journalists of being terrorists without providing any credible proof," the organisation added. The Israeli military has suggested it has documents found in Gaza that confirmed Sharif belonged to Hamas. It said these include "personnel rosters, lists of terrorist training courses, phone directories and salary documents". The only materials that have been released for publication are screenshots of spreadsheets apparently listing Hamas operatives from the northern Gaza Strip, noting injuries to Hamas operatives, and a section of what is said to be a phone directory for the armed group's East Jabalia battalion. The BBC cannot independently verify these documents, and has seen no evidence of Sharif having involvement in the current war or remaining an active member of Hamas. No Israeli explanation has so far been given for the killing of the entire Al Jazeera news crew. CPJ says at least 186 journalists have been killed since the start of Israel's military offensive in Gaza in October 2023 - the deadliest period for journalists since it began recording such data in 1992. "Israel must respect & protect all civilians, including journalists," the UN Human Rights office said in a post on X. "We call for immediate, safe and unhindered access to Gaza for all journalists." Last month, the BBC and three other news agencies - Reuters, AP and AFP - issued a joint statement expressing "desperate concern" for journalists in the Gaza Strip, who they say are increasingly unable to feed themselves and their families. The Israeli government does not allow international news organisations, including the BBC, into Gaza to report freely, so many outlets rely on Gaza-based reporters for coverage. Meanwhile in Gaza, five more people have died from malnutrition in the past 24 hours, including one child, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. This brings the total number of malnutrition deaths to 222, including 101 children, the health ministry said. The UN's humanitarian agency said on Friday that the amount of aid entering Gaza continues to be "far below the minimum required to meet people's immense needs". Last month, UN-backed global food security experts warned the "worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out". Israel has continued to deny there is starvation in Gaza and has accused UN agencies of not picking up aid at the borders and delivering it. The UN's humanitarian agency has said it continues to see impediments and delays as it tries to collect aid from Israeli-controlled border zones. Israel launched its offensive in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. Since then, 61,430 people have been killed in Gaza as a result of Israel's military campaign, according to the health ministry. Who was Anas al-Sharif, famous Gaza journalist killed by Israel? Five Al Jazeera journalists killed in Israeli strike in Gaza
The Independent
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Anas al-Sharif: Who was the Al Jazeera journalist killed by Israel?
The killing of Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif by Israeli forces in a 'targeted strike' in Gaza last week sparked outrage from media organisations, humanitarian groups and foreign governments. For nearly two years, he reported on the humanitarian crisis that has unfolded in the Strip since Israel began its war in October 2023. The journalist, 28, was described as the 'only voice left in Gaza City'. After Israel barred foreign journalists from entering the enclave, al-Sharif became the most prominent reporter covering the war, which has killed over 61,400 people so far and reduced Gaza to a heap of rubble. On Sunday night, al-Sharif had warned of a "relentless bombardment" of Gaza City. Shortly after, an Israeli missile hit a tent outside the city's largest hospital complex, killing him and five other journalists. The IDF claimed that al-Sharif was the head of a Hamas militant cell and was involved in rocket attacks on Israel, an allegation that has been denied both by Al Jazeera and al-Sharif himself. Below, The Independent looks at the career of al-Sharif and how he became the most famous reporter in Gaza. 'The only voice left in Gaza City' Since joining the Qatari broadcaster in December 2023, the father of two reported almost daily on the suffering of Palestinians in northern Gaza. Al-Sharif drew widespread attention last January when, during a live broadcast, he removed his body armour after a ceasefire announcement between Israel and Hamas. "I am taking off the helmet that tired me, and this armour that has become an extension of my body,' he said. In a July broadcast, al-Sharif cried on air as a woman behind him collapsed from hunger. "I am talking about the slow death of those people," he said at the time. He was hired by Al Jazeera after his social media footage of Israeli attacks in his hometown of Jabalia went viral. 'I had never even appeared on a local channel, let alone an international one,' he was quoted as saying by the media outlet Sotour. 'The person who was happiest was my late father. We journalists slept in hospitals, in streets, in vehicles, in ambulances, in displacement shelters, in warehouses, with displaced people. I slept in 30 to 40 different places.' UN says killings 'part of a strategy to suppress truth' In January 2024, al-Sharif's father was killed in an Israeli airstrike on their home in the Jabalia refugee camp, where al-Sharif was born. Israel has accused al-Sharif of having links to Hamas, a claim he has rejected. In October 2024, Israel published documents which it claimed showed 'unequivocal proof' of the reporter's ties to the militant group. Responding to the allegations, al-Sharif said: 'I, Anas Al-Sharif, am a journalist with no political affiliations. My only mission is to report the truth from the ground – as it is, without bias.' He added: 'At a time when a deadly famine is ravaging Gaza, speaking the truth has become, in the eyes of the occupation, a threat." UN special rapporteur Irene Khan on 31 July warned that killings of journalists were a 'part of a deliberate strategy of Israel to suppress the truth'. Raed Fakih, input manager at Al Jazeera, told the BBC that al-Sharif was "courageous, dedicated, and honest – that is what made him successful as a journalist with hundreds of thousands of social media followers from all over the world". "His dedication took him to areas where no other reporter ventured to go, especially those that witnessed the worst massacres. His integrity kept him true to his message as a journalist,' Mr Fakih said. "In our last conversations, he told me about the famine and starvation he was enduring, about how hard it is to survive with so little food.' Hundreds gather to mourn journalists killed by Israel In a pre-written final message, which was posted to al-Sharif's X account shortly after his death, he said: "If these words of mine reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice." Al-Sharif said he had "lived through pain in all its details, tasted suffering and loss many times, yet I never once hesitated to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or falsification". 'Do not forget Gaza,' he appealed. 'And do not forget me in your righteous prayers for forgiveness and acceptance.' Hundreds of people, including many journalists, gathered on Monday to mourn al-Sharif and his slain colleagues, whose bodies lay wrapped in white sheets at the al-Shifa Hospital complex. Al Jazeera denounced the 'targeted assassination' of its crew as "yet another blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom". The strike also killed four Al Jazeera journalists and a freelance reporter: Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, Moamen Aliwa, and Mohammad al-Khaldi. The killing of al-Sharif and his colleagues brought the total number of Al Jazeera staff killed by Israeli forces during the war to 11, a total which does not include eight freelancers. Ismail al-Ghoul, 27, and camerman Rami al-Rifi were killed last summer, while freelancer Hossam Shabat was killed in an Israeli airstrike in March. The Committee to Protect Journalists said on Monday that at least 192 journalists had been killed since Israel launched the war in Gaza.
Observer
7 days ago
- Politics
- Observer
Gazans mourn six journalists killed by Israeli strikes
GAZA: Gazans gathered on Monday for the funeral of five Al Jazeera staff members and a sixth reporter killed in an Israeli strike, with Israel calling one of them affiliated with Hamas. Dozens stood amid bombed-out buildings in the courtyard of Al Shifa hospital to pay their respects to Anas al Sharif, a prominent Al Jazeera correspondent aged 28, and four of his colleagues, killed on Sunday. A sixth journalist, Mohammed al Khaldi, who worked as a freelance reporter, was also killed in the strike that targeted the Al Jazeera team, according to the director of Al Shifa Hospital, Dr Mohammed Abu Salmiya. Their bodies, wrapped in white shrouds with their faces exposed, were carried through narrow alleys to their graves by mourners, including men wearing blue journalists' flak jackets. Israel confirmed it had targeted Sharif, whom it says affiliated with Hamas, saying he "posed as a journalist". Al Jazeera said its employees were hit in a tent set up for journalists outside the main gate of a hospital in Gaza City. The four other staff members killed were Mohammed Qreiqeh, also a correspondent, and cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa. Sharif was one of the channel's most recognisable faces working on the ground in Gaza, providing daily reports on the now 22-month-old war. The UN human rights agency on Monday condemned Israel's targeted killing of six journalists in Gaza as a "grave breach of international humanitarian law". The office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said on X that the Israeli military had targeted a tent housing five staff from Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera. "Israel must respect and protect all civilians, including journalists," Turk's office added, noting that at least 242 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Gaza since the war started in the Palestinian territory in October 2023. "We call for immediate, safe and unhindered access to Gaza for all journalists," it said. Journalists (CPJ) called in July for his protection, accusing Israel of a "pattern" of labelling journalists militants "without providing credible evidence". It said the Israeli military had levelled similar accusations against other journalists in Gaza earlier in the war, including other Al Jazeera staff. Al Jazeera called the attack that killed Sharif "a desperate attempt to silence voices exposing the Israeli occupation", as it described Sharif as "one of Gaza's bravest journalists". It also said it followed "repeated incitement and calls by multiple Israeli officials and spokespersons to target the fearless journalist Anas Al Sharif and his colleagues". Reporters Without Borders says nearly 200 journalists have been killed in the war so far. International reporters are prevented from travelling to Gaza by Israel, except on occasional, tightly controlled trips with the military. The strike on the journalists came with criticism mounting over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to expand the war in the Gaza Strip. The security cabinet voted last week to conquer the remaining quarter or so of the territory not yet controlled by Israeli troops, including much of Gaza City and Al Mawasi, the area designated a safe zone by Israel where huge numbers of Palestinians have sought refuge. Notably, the plans caused Germany, a major weapons supplier and staunch ally, to suspend shipments to Israel of any arms that could be used in Gaza. Australia said it would join a growing list of Western nations in recognising a Palestinian state. Despite the diplomatic reversals, Netanyahu remained defiant. "We will win the war, with or without the support of others," he told journalists on Sunday. The United Nations and humanitarian agencies have condemned the planned expansion. "If these plans are implemented, they will likely trigger another calamity in Gaza," UN Assistant Secretary General Miroslav Jenca told the Security Council on Sunday. UN agencies warned last month that famine was unfolding in the territory, with Israel severely restricting the entry of aid. Israel's offensive has killed at least 61,430 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, figures the United Nations says are reliable. — AFP
The Guardian
11-08-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Morning Mail: Trump seizes control of DC police; funerals for journalists killed by Israel; WA reef devastation
Good morning. As the funerals of five Al Jazeera journalists are held in Gaza City, global outrage is mounting over Israel's targeted killings – including of prominent reporter Anas al-Sharif. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has seized control of Washington DC police and deployed the national guard in the US capital, erroneously claiming it to be one of the most crime-ridden cities in the world. Closer to home, coral bleaching has devastated a vast area of Western Australia's reef systems following a record marine heatwave. And we look at the journey towards Indigenous inclusion at the University of Melbourne. Coral bleaching | The 'longest, largest and most intense' marine heatwave ever recorded in Western Australia has killed coral throughout an area that stretches 1,500km, according to scientists. Clouds on the horizon | Sydney's had its soggiest start to August in nearly three decades, and even more rain could be on the way this spring. Abnormally high sea surface temperatures off the NSW coast are partly to blame. Lesson to be learned? | An online database of lesson plans would help teachers cut hours from their workloads and help reverse years of stagnating student results, the Productivity Commission says. Erin Patterson | A judge ruled the triple murderer would have been unfairly prejudiced if a jury heard allegations she had tried to kill her estranged husband in the years before the poison mushroom meal. 'Political fig leaf' | The government's announcement it will recognise a Palestinian state is meaningless if it continues trade and diplomatic relations with Israel, the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network says. Our chief political correspondent writes that recognising Palestine is a landmark moment for the PM and explains how it came about. Russia-Ukraine war | Donald Trump has confirmed that he and Vladimir Putin will discuss 'land swapping' when they meet this week in Alaska for a high-stakes summit on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Gaza crisis | 'If these words reach you … Israel has succeeded in killing me': these are the last worlds of Al-Jazeera reporter Anas al-Sharif, one of five journalists killed by a targeted Israeli airstrike in Gaza. Many of Gaza's media workers have 'risked everything' for their work. Seizing DC | Donald Trump has deployed the national guard in Washington DC, claiming the US capital is 'overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals … and homeless people'. Meanwhile, he has once again delayed implementing sweeping trade tariffs on China, announcing another 90-day pause hours before a previous agreement expired. With love, Meghan | The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have signed a fresh multi-year film and television deal with Netflix, contradicting reports this year that the streaming company would not renew its contract with them. Dog controls | India's supreme court has ordered the immediate removal of thousands of stray dogs from the Delhi capital region, citing canine attacks and an alarming rabies toll. Australia's plan to recognise Palestine The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has confirmed his government will join other allies to formally recognise Palestinian statehood. Our chief political correspondent Tom McIlroy speaks with Full Story host Nour Haydar about why the Australian government is making this move now – and whether it will change anything for the Palestinians living under attack in Gaza. As it seeks to increase Indigenous representation, the University of Melbourne has released the second volume of Dhoombak Goobgoowana – translated as 'truth-telling' in the Woi Wurrung language. As Caitlin Cassidy discovers, it reveals a process of reconciliation that has been 'imperfect, overdue and then often painfully slow, but marked by stories of courage and hope'. Text-based artist Rose Nolan has long worked with tactile and humble materials, eschewing time-saving methods in favour of cutting thousands of shapes by hand. She believes the labour embedded in the work transfers to viewers, making them slow down to take it all in. As her new exhibition – Breathing Helps – opens, she reflects on her 'sex, drugs and rock'n'roll' past, avoiding social media, and her 'very analogue' present. Sign up to Morning Mail Our Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Opinion | AFLW is not a side project for players who thrive on consistency and certainty, St Kilda's Nicola Barr (above left) writes. Rugby union | Mouthguards that flash red after potentially concussive impacts will be introduced at Women's Rugby World Cup. Football | Jack Grealish has agreed to join Everton on a season's long from Manchester City; Newcastle end centre-back hunt with deal for AC Milan's Malick Thiaw. Winter sports | Ski jumping is facing controversy just six months out from the Winter Olympics due to a row over ill‑fitting suits. A NSW Health webinar told GPs that Blue Mountains residents could reduce their exposure to 'forever chemicals' by donating blood, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. Scientists thought dolphins 'harassed' whales – but Australian researchers have revealed the marine animals are actually playing together, the Age reports. A $60m cotton gin facility has opened in WA's far north, ushering in a new era for the region's cotton industry, ABC News reports. RBA | The Reserve Bank of Australia is set to announce its official cash rate decision this afternoon. NT | The trial of crocodile wrangler Matt Wright, accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice, continues. SA | Flinders University is set to host the Torres Strait health research symposium. If you would like to receive this Morning Mail update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here, or finish your day with our Afternoon Update newsletter. You can follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland. And finally, here are the Guardian's crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow. Quick crossword Cryptic crossword
