The strike hit a tent designated for journalists, killing al-Sharif, correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh, and cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa, according to Al Jazeera.
The broadcaster described the attack as a 'targeted assassination' and 'a blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom.'
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) expressed shock and condemned the strike, emphasising the urgent need to protect media workers reporting from conflict zones.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed the strike and said it had targeted al-Sharif, accusing him of being involved in Hamas activities. The IDF alleged al-Sharif had served as the head of a terrorist cell within Hamas and had participated in attacks against Israeli civilians and troops. The military also claimed to possess documents linking him to Hamas units dating back to 2019.
However, the CPJ criticised these claims, stating that Israel had failed to provide credible evidence. Jodie Ginsberg, CEO of CPJ, said this pattern of posthumous accusations without proof was consistent with previous incidents involving Israeli forces and journalists.
Al Jazeera's managing editor, Mohamed Moawad, highlighted the critical role of al-Sharif and his colleagues in providing coverage from inside Gaza, where international journalists are largely barred from reporting freely.
'They were targeted while in their tent, not on the front lines,' Moawad said, citing an attempt to silence independent reporting from the region.
The UN and various international media organisations have repeatedly called for the protection of journalists in Gaza, emphasising that attacks on media personnel undermine press freedom and obstruct the flow of critical information from the conflict zone.
The Israeli offensive was launched in response to a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths and hundreds taken hostage. Since then, more than 61,000 people have been reported killed in Gaza, according to Hamas-run health authorities.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/five-al-jazeera-journalists-killed-in-israeli-airstrike-on-gaza
