Five Al Jazeera Journalists Killed in Gaza Airstrike Amid Growing Media Casualties

A deadly strike near Al-Shifa Hospital shakes the world

In the midst of an unrelenting conflict that has gripped Gaza for nearly two years, a grim new tragedy unfolded as five Al Jazeera journalists were killed in an Israeli airstrike near the Al-Shifa Hospital’s main gate. Among the victims were correspondents Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh, and cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa.

The five were working in a tent designated for journalists when the airstrike struck, a scene that many are describing as a “targeted assassination” on press freedom itself.

قصف لا يتوقف…
منذ ساعتين والعدوان الإسرائيلي يشتد على مدينة غزة. pic.twitter.com/yW8PesTkFT

— أنس الشريف Anas Al-Sharif (@AnasAlSharif0) August 10, 2025

Gaza’s journalists under siege

This horrific event is not isolated. According to international media watchdogs, nearly 200 media workers have been killed since the conflict intensified. Gaza’s journalists, who risk their lives to report amid bombings, blockades, and starvation, find themselves increasingly targeted in a war zone that grows more perilous by the day.

Al Jazeera described the attack as part of a “catastrophic assault” on Gaza, marked not only by the deaths of civilians but also by the systematic obliteration of entire communities and the grinding blockade that starves the population of essentials.

The controversy and claims from both sides

The Israeli military took responsibility for the strike, accusing Anas al-Sharif of being a leader in Hamas’ armed wing, a charge the journalist and Al Jazeera have firmly denied, stressing his role as a reporter covering Gaza’s unfolding humanitarian crisis.

Al-Sharif’s final posts painted a stark picture of life in Gaza, with video footage capturing the roar of missile strikes lighting up the night sky. He had recently been vocal about the dire conditions faced by residents and journalists alike, particularly highlighting the severe food shortages caused by Israel’s restrictions on aid.

Calls for accountability and protection of journalists

International human rights groups have condemned the attack, calling for urgent investigations and justice. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) expressed shock and sorrow, pointing out Israel’s troubling pattern of labelling journalists as militants without credible evidence, a tactic that endangers innocent civilians and undermines press freedom.

Sara Qudah, CPJ’s regional director, emphasized that journalists are civilians who must never be targeted, reminding the global community that those responsible for these killings must be held accountable.

A broader perspective on media safety in conflict zones

South Africans and global observers alike have reacted with a mix of outrage and sorrow, understanding that the targeting of journalists is not just an attack on individuals but on the very principle of truth-telling in war.

For many, this tragedy underscores the urgent need to reinforce protections for journalists reporting in conflict zones and to ensure that their crucial work in informing the world does not come at the cost of their lives.

{Source: The Citizen}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com