Media freedom groups called the strike a “grave breach of international humanitarian law”. Photo / Zain Jaafar, AFP
Condemnations have poured in from the United Nations and media rights groups after an Israeli strike killed an Al Jazeera news team in Gaza, as Palestinians mourned the journalists and Israel accused one of them of being a Hamas militant.
Dozens of Gazans stood amid bombed-out buildings in the courtyard of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City to pay their respects to Anas al-Sharif, a prominent Al Jazeera correspondent aged 28, and four of his colleagues killed on Sunday.
Hospital director Mohammed Abu Salmiya said a sixth journalist, freelance reporter Mohammed Al-Khaldi, was killed in the strike that targeted the Al Jazeera team.
Mourners including men wearing blue journalists’ flak jackets carried their bodies, wrapped in white shrouds with their faces exposed, through narrow alleys to their graves.
Israel confirmed it had targeted Sharif, whom it labelled a “terrorist” affiliated with Hamas, alleging he “posed as a journalist”.
Al Jazeera said four other employees – correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh, and cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa – were killed when the strike hit a tent set up for journalists outside the main gate of Al-Shifa.
An Israeli military statement accused Sharif of heading a Hamas “terrorist cell” and being “responsible for advancing rocket attacks” against Israelis.
The military released documents alleging to show the date of Sharif’s enlistment with Hamas in 2013, an injury report from 2017 and the name of his military unit and rank.
According to local journalists who knew him, Sharif had worked at the start of his career with a Hamas communication office, where his role was to publicise events organised by the group that has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2006.
Sharif was one of Al Jazeera’s most recognisable faces working on the ground in Gaza, providing daily reports on the now 22-month-old war.
Media freedom groups have condemned the Israeli strike on journalists, which the UN human rights agency called a “grave breach of international humanitarian law”.
A posthumous message, written by Sharif in April in case of his death, was published online saying he had been silenced and urging people “not to forget Gaza”.
In July, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called for his protection following online posts by an Israeli military spokesman.
The group had accused Israel of a “pattern” of labelling journalists militants “without providing credible evidence”, and said the military had levelled similar accusations against media workers in Gaza including Al Jazeera staff.
“International law is clear that active combatants are the only justified targets in a war setting,” Jodie Ginsberg, CPJ’s chief executive, told AFP.
Unless Israel “can demonstrate that Anas al-Sharif was still an active combatant, then there is no justification for his killing”, she said.
Al Jazeera called the attack “a desperate attempt to silence voices exposing the Israeli occupation”, as it described Sharif as “one of Gaza’s bravest journalists”.
The Qatari broadcaster also said the strike followed “repeated incitement” and calls by Israeli officials to target Sharif and his colleagues.
Reporters Without Borders says nearly 200 journalists have been killed in the war, which was sparked by Hamas’ October 2023 attack on Israel.
Israel prevents international reporters from entering Gaza, except on occasional tightly controlled trips with the military.
The strike on the news team in Gaza City came days after the Israeli security cabinet had approved plans to send troops into the area, a decision met with mounting domestic and international criticism.
Netanyahu on Sunday said the military will conquer the remaining quarter or so of the territory not yet controlled by Israeli troops – including much of Gaza City and Al-Mawasi, an Israeli-designated safe zone where huge numbers of Palestinians have sought refuge.
The plan, which Israeli media reported had triggered bitter disagreement between the Government and military leadership, drew condemnation from protesters in Israel and numerous countries, including Israeli allies.
Notably, Germany, a major weapons supplier and staunch ally, announced the suspension of shipments 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.
Netanyahu has remained defiant, telling journalists on Sunday that “we will win the war, with or without the support of others”.
The United Nations and humanitarian agencies have condemned the planned offensive, which UN Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca said “will likely trigger another calamity in Gaza”.
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 61,499 Palestinians, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, figures the United Nations says are reliable.
Hamas’ October 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1219 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
– Agence France-Presse