The killing of Anas al-Sharif, a prominent Al Jazeera correspondent in Gaza, has been described as a “significant escalation” of the dangers faced by journalists covering conflicts in the region. According to Jodie Ginsberg, CEO of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Israel’s targeted strike on August 10 resulted in the deaths of six journalists, with al-Sharif being one of them.
Israel initially claimed that al-Sharif was a Hamas “rocket-firing brigade” head, but Al Jazeera’s director of news, Salah Negm, has rejected these allegations as “completely fabricated.” Negm stated that al-Sharif received threats from the Israeli military prior to his death and had chosen to live in a tent near a hospital to minimize risks.
Ginsberg emphasized that the CPJ is pressing Israel for answers regarding the allegations against al-Sharif. The organization has investigated at least 26 cases of journalists being directly targeted by Israel, often with dubious evidence or allegations of terrorism. Experts have questioned the validity of the documents provided by Israel, which in some cases have been found to be misleading.
The CPJ is calling for a transparent investigation into the killing of the six journalists and holding those responsible accountable. Since the war began, 192 journalists have been killed in Gaza primarily by the Israeli military, with many more facing threats and intimidation. Ginsberg stressed that Israel’s obligation under international law to investigate and explain attacks on civilians, including journalists, has been ignored.
The Committee to Protect Journalists is urging a thorough investigation into al-Sharif’s death, which has sparked concerns over journalist safety in Gaza.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/08/13/nx-s1-5498745/al-jazeera-journalist-gaza-committee-to-protect-journalists