Hundreds of Palestinians attended the funeral of five Al Jazeera staff members, including correspondent Anas al-Sharif, who were killed in a targeted Israeli air strike on a media tent outside al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. The strike, which occurred late on Sunday, also killed two other people, bringing the total death toll to seven. The deceased journalists were identified as Mohammed Qreiqeh, camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Moamen Aliwa, and Mohammed Noufal, as well as freelance reporter Mohammed al-Khaldi.
Colleagues, friends, and relatives gathered to bid farewell to the journalists, with a man lifting a “press” flak jacket high above the crowd during the funeral procession. Footage verified by Al Jazeera showed mourners chanting slogans against the killings, with some pledging, “With our soul and blood, we sacrifice for you, Anas,” in reference to the slain journalist.
Al Jazeera Media Network strongly condemned the “targeted assassination” by Israeli forces, accusing the military of deliberately striking the journalists’ position. “The Israeli military admitted to their crimes,” the network said, describing the attack as “another blatant and premeditated assault on press freedom.” Al-Sharif was described as “one of Gaza’s bravest journalists,” and the attack was seen as “a desperate attempt to silence voices in anticipation of the occupation of Gaza.”
The Israeli military admitted to killing the Al Jazeera journalists, claiming al-Sharif led a Hamas cell. However, this claim has been met with widespread condemnation. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said it was “appalled” by the killings, stating, “Israel’s pattern of labeling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence raises serious questions about its intent and respect for press freedom.” CPJ’s regional director, Sara Qudah, emphasized, “Those responsible for these killings must be held accountable.”
Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) also condemned the attack, describing it as the “acknowledged murder by the Israeli army” of al-Sharif. RSF called al-Sharif “one of the most famous journalists from the Gaza Strip” and “the voice of the suffering Israel has imposed on Palestinians in Gaza.” The group warned that without strong action from the international community, “we’re likely to witness more such extrajudicial murders of media professionals.”
The killings of the Palestinian journalists come amid a broader conflict, with Israel’s security cabinet approving a plan to seize Gaza City and forcibly displace nearly one million people. Rights groups and legal experts have pointed out that Gaza remains under Israeli occupation, with nothing able to go in or out without Israeli permission. A total Israeli blockade since March 2 has triggered a starvation crisis, killing over 200 people, including more than 100 children, in recent weeks.