Gaza City, August 11, 2025 — A deadly Israeli airstrike in Gaza has intensified tensions between the Israeli government and the Qatar-based news network Al Jazeera, after five of the channel’s journalists were killed near Al-Shifa Hospitalon Saturday.
The journalists — Anas al-Sharif, Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Zaher, Moamen Aliwa, and Mohammed Noufal — were reportedly sheltering in a media tent when the strike occurred. The incident has sparked global outrage and renewed concerns about the safety of journalists in conflict zones.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed targeting the area, claiming that Anas al-Sharif was a “Hamas operative”involved in militant activities. Al Jazeera has rejected this allegation, describing the attack as a “deliberate assassination” aimed at silencing independent reporting from Gaza.
Media Under Fire
This is not the first time Israel and Al Jazeera have clashed. The Israeli government has long accused the network of bias and incitement, and earlier this year, Israel passed legislation allowing it to ban Al Jazeera’s broadcasts within its territory — a move widely condemned by international press freedom advocates.
The network, in a statement, condemned the killing of its journalists and vowed to pursue international legal action, stating:
“The deliberate targeting of our staff is a war crime that will not go unanswered.”
Global Reaction
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The United Nations, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) have all condemned the attack, calling for an independent investigation.
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Qatar, Al Jazeera’s host nation, has demanded accountability and urged the international community to protect media workers.
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Protests erupted in multiple cities across the Middle East, with demonstrators accusing Israel of targeting journalists to suppress documentation of war crimes.
Background
Since the outbreak of the latest Israel-Gaza war in 2023, over 180 journalists have reportedly been killed in the region — the highest number in a single conflict in recent decades. Al Jazeera has been one of the few international networks maintaining a presence in Gaza throughout the conflict.
Developing Story: Investigations are ongoing. Human rights groups are calling for the International Criminal Court to examine whether the targeting of journalists constitutes a breach of international humanitarian law.
