By Safiyat Muhammed | Tel Aviv | Nigeria News Today
In yet another escalation of violence and press freedom concerns, five Al Jazeera journalists have been killed in what the broadcaster described as a “targeted assassination” by Israeli forces near Gaza City’s Al-Shifa Hospital.
According to Al Jazeera, correspondents Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh, along with cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa, were in a tent for journalists at the hospital’s main gate on Sunday when the Israeli strike hit.
“This is yet another blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom,” the network said in a statement.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) later confirmed that the strike was aimed at al-Sharif, claiming he served as the head of a Hamas terrorist cell. However, they did not acknowledge the deaths of the other journalists.
Al Jazeera initially reported four staff fatalities before revising the number to five, stating that seven people in total were killed in the attack.
Al Jazeera Rejects IDF Claims
Speaking to the BBC, Al Jazeera’s managing editor Mohamed Moawad insisted al-Sharif was a fully accredited journalist who had been “the only voice” bringing the realities of Gaza’s devastation to the world.
“They were targeted in their tent; they weren’t covering from the front line,” Moawad said.
“The Israeli government wants to silence any reporting from inside Gaza.”
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also condemned the killings, with CEO Jodie Ginsberg accusing Israel of repeatedly labeling slain journalists as terrorists without providing evidence.
Pattern of Targeting Journalists in Gaza
This is not the first time the IDF has been accused of targeting Al Jazeera staff. In August last year, journalist Ismael Al-Ghoul and cameraman Rami al-Rifi were killed in an airstrike — claims that both Al Jazeera and human rights groups said were deliberate acts to silence reporting.
Since the beginning of Israel’s offensive in Gaza in October 2023, at least 186 journalists have been confirmed killed, according to CPJ figures.
Global Calls for Accountability
Human rights organizations, the United Nations, and press freedom advocates are demanding an independent investigation into the latest killings, warning that attacks on journalists constitute violations of international law.
The Bureau News will continue to monitor developments and provide updates on this evolving story.
