Israel is facing a growing international control after killing five Al Jazeera journalists in a single strike in front of the Gaza hospital, including 28-year-old correspondents Anasa Al-Shaarifa-one of the most important war reporters of the enclave.
Soon after Sharif’s death, the Israeli army repeated the accusation he first made in 2024: that a young reporter was a worker of Hamas. The army accused him of producing famine reports as she called “Hamas’s False Campaign about starvation”.
Group and advocates to the freedom of the press claim that these statements, which were not supported by any publicly available evidence, were used to justify killing. The Committee on the Protection of Journalists (CPJ) previously described such accusations as the “threat of death” for Sharif.
Also read | As journalists killed by Israel have seen Gaza horror: “I saw so much death …”
How dangerous is Gaza for journalists?
According to CPJ dataMore than 180 Palestinian journalists were killed in Gaza in the 22 months of war – the highest number of reporters recorded in any modern conflict zone. At least 26 of these cases are classified as a “targeted killing” group that could represent murder under international law.
Sharif, known for his raw, front coverage, became widely recognized outside the region in July when he collapsed on a living television describing starvation in Gaza. In one of his final contributions on social media, he seemed to have anticipated his destiny:
“If these words get you, I know that Israel managed to kill me and silence my voice.”
Also read | The American doctor describes the cold reality of Gaza: “Children lack the limbs to cry …”
Accusations of a wider Israel strategy in Gaza
Jodie Ginsberg, CEP CPJ, accused Israel of watching a consistent strategy that prevents independent coverage. She quoted the prevention of international reporters from entering Gaza, repeated air strikes in media offices and repressive measures against Israeli stores critical of the war.
She pointed to the BBC crew, which was allowed to shoot humanitarian aid AirDrops from the Jordanian military aircraft – but it was forbidden to show the destruction and human suffering on Earth.
“This is a narrative control,” Ginsberg said. “If the public only sees carefully curatorial pictures, human costs remain abstract.”
Also read | Increased hazard: killing a journalist in Gaza sends a refrigerant message
Israeli justification of killing Palestinian journalists
Israel published documentation of documents that are said to have been obtained from Gaza and connect Sharif with Hamas. It ends in 2021, two years before the beginning of the war, nor do they try to solve its regular performance live on the camera.
The role of one of the most important journalists on one of the narrowest places on Earth would be strikingly difficult to command the Hamas unit during the Celto -Town of the War.
Also read | Watch | An Israeli athlete is doing on the camera
Israel’s documents published after killing another journalist Al Jazeer last year claimed that Ismail Al-Ghoul was given a military rank when he was 10 years old.
While they reduced the contradictory and unconvincing evidence, the existence of these ensembles reflected Israeli concerns about the pressure of Western allies and at least compliance with international law.
Inside the so -called Israeli “legitimizing cell”
Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham claims that after 7 October Hamas attacks the Israeli army news branch Aman Aman Aman’s special “legitimizing cell”. His reported purpose: to collect and distribute the material framing of journalists Gazan as militants, thus making their death as legal.
Abraham claims that the unit could not submit substantial evidence connecting reporters with militant groups, yet she was still pushing on the narrative that would “choose” their killing.
“I think Israel killed Anas Al-Shaarif simply because he was a journalist,” Abraham said. “And that’s why foreign reporters are held outside Gaza – so crimes are less seen.”
Also read | Israel’s new war plan includes fighting in central refugee camps in Gaza
International reaction and requires Israel’s responsibility
The death of journalists Al Jazeera in Gaza condemned convictions from defenders of freedom of press and organizations in the field of human rights. CPJ demanded an independent investigation, while reporters without borders (RSF) stated that the formula of killing “cannot be rejected as random or securing”.
UN officials have repeatedly demanded unlimited access to international media and warned that the absence of independent verification of disinformation and impunity.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is already examining potential war crimes in Gaza, but it remains unclear whether the killing of journalists will be formally investigated in this process.
Also read | Netanyahu prevents a new military offensive in Gaza, says, “He had no choice …”
War of Information in Gaza
For Palestinians in Gaza and around the world, local and several international journalists are often the only source of information in real time. When the telecommunications infrastructure was repeatedly eliminated and banned foreign press, reporters like Sharif were the eyes and ears of the public – sometimes they broadcast until they were killed.
Also read | Grok Ai claims to have been suspended from X Elon Muska for speaking
Groups of rights, such as CPJ, warn that the systematic targeting of Palestinian media workers by Israel not only violates international humanitarian law, but also deprives civilians of the ability to document and communicate their reality.
As the war crushes, the death of Anas al-Shaarif and his colleagues became a symbol of the danger of reporting from Gaza. For many of their loss, not only is the silence of individual voices, but to erase the whole story from the perspective of the world.
(Tagstotranslate) Israel
