Gaza Journalist Dies Amidst Intensified Bombardment

Press Freedom Groups Raise Alarms Over Israeli Allegations

Anas Al Sharif, a Gaza-based journalist, has died amid a sustained Israeli bombardment of Gaza City. His passing follows earlier warnings from press freedom advocates and a UN expert who expressed concern for his safety due to his reporting.

Concerns Over Journalist’s Safety

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) had previously urged international protection for **Al Sharif**, citing Israel’s failure to provide evidence to support its claims that he was a member of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. These allegations were made last October, with Israel citing documents related to training courses and salaries.

The CPJ’s director for the Middle East and North Africa, **Sara Qudah**, stated, “Israel’s pattern of labelling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence raises serious questions about its intent and respect for press freedom.”

Minutes before his death, **Al Sharif** posted on his X account, which had over 500,000 followers, that Gaza City had been subjected to intense shelling for more than two hours. His social media message, to be released posthumously, read: “I never hesitated to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or misrepresentation, hoping God would witness those who remained silent.”

Al Jazeera Condemns Allegations

Al Jazeera vehemently rejected Israel’s characterization of its journalists as terrorists, denouncing what it called the use of fabricated evidence. The network emphasized that “Anas Al Sharif and his colleagues were among the last remaining voices in Gaza conveying the tragic reality to the world.” Previously, UN special rapporteur **Irene Khan** had deemed Israel’s accusations against **Al Sharif** unsubstantiated.

Hamas Links Death to Offensive

The militant group Hamas suggested that **Al Sharif’s** death could foreshadow a broader Israeli offensive. Hamas stated, “The assassination of journalists and the intimidation of those who remain paves the way for a major crime the occupation is planning to commit in Gaza City.” Israeli Prime Minister **Benjamin Netanyahu** has reiterated his intention to launch a new offensive to dismantle Hamas strongholds in Gaza.

Rising Toll of Journalists Killed

The conflict in Gaza has seen a significant loss of life among journalists. The Hamas-run Gaza government media office reported 237 journalists killed since the war began on October 7, 2023. The CPJ’s figures indicate at least 186 journalists have perished in the ongoing conflict. In comparison, the war in Ukraine, which lasted over a year, saw around 15 journalists killed, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.