Al Jazeera’s Anas Al Sharif killed in Gaza airstrike; Israel alleges Hamas ties, rights groups dispute claim. Protests erupt in Tel Aviv over Gaza takeover as hostage families demand action.
August 11, 2025.
WEBDESK: An Israeli airstrike in Gaza City has killed Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al Sharif, with Israel’s military alleging he was a Hamas cell leader involved in rocket attacks — a claim firmly rejected by Al Jazeera, press freedom advocates, and a UN expert.
The strike, which occurred near Shifa Hospital, also killed several others. Al Jazeera denounced the killing as “an attempt to silence independent voices” ahead of what it described as the “occupation of Gaza.” The network accused Israel of targeting Al Sharif for his extensive frontline reporting on the Gaza war.
Israel’s military asserted that Al Sharif was “a senior Hamas operative” directing attacks against Israel. However, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and a UN special rapporteur stated there was no credible evidence linking him to Hamas. Rights groups had previously warned that Al Sharif faced threats due to his coverage of civilian casualties and conditions inside Gaza.
The killing comes amid mounting unrest inside Israel. Tens of thousands rallied in Tel Aviv on Saturday, protesting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to move forward with a military takeover of Gaza City after 22 months of war. Families of the roughly 50 remaining hostages — 20 of whom are believed to be alive — pressed the government for their release.
“Help us save the hostages, the soldiers and the state of Israel,” pleaded Einav Zangauker, whose son is among those held in Gaza, urging even the powerful Histadrut labour union to consider a general strike.
Hamas condemned the journalist’s killing, warning it may signal the start of a new offensive. A joint statement from nine nations, including Germany, Britain, France, and Canada, said they “strongly reject” Israel’s planned large-scale operation in Gaza City.
Al Jazeera vowed to continue its coverage despite what it called “a deliberate campaign to intimidate journalists in Gaza.”
Anas al-Sharif, a 28-year-old Al Jazeera journalist, was killed in an Israeli strike near Gaza’s Al-Shifa Hospital. He was among a group of four Al Jazeera journalists and an assistant who died in the strike on a media tent. This targeted strike occurred recently, and al-Sharif had posted a final message prior to his death. The loss of al-Sharif and other journalists highlights the ongoing dangers faced by media personnel in the region.
