Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al Sharif was killed in an air strike on Gaza on Sunday. The Israeli military claims that he was the head of a Hamas cell, but human rights organisations say there is no evidence of this and that the attack was motivated by his reporting on the war.
According to the Gaza authorities and Al Jazeera, 28-year-old Al Sharif was with three fellow journalists and their assistant in a tent near Shifa Hospital in the eastern part of the city when the strike hit. Two other people were also killed. Al Jazeera called him “one of Gaza’s bravest reporters” and described the incident as a “desperate attempt to silence voices” ahead of a possible occupation.
The Israeli military, on the other hand, claimed that Al Sharif was a Hamas leader and was involved in rocket attacks on civilian and military targets in Israel, citing intelligence and documents found in Gaza.
In response, Al Jazeera and international organisations condemned the incident, accusing Israel of using fabricated evidence. Earlier, the Committee to Protect Journalists and UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan warned of a possible threat to his life. Last month, Khan noted that the Israeli accusations were unfounded.
Al Sharif left a farewell message, published after his death: “I conveyed the truth without distortion, hoping that God would be a witness to those who remain silent.”
In October 2024, the Israeli army listed Al Sharif among six Gaza journalists accused of links to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Al Jazeera strongly rejected these claims at the time.
The Committee to Protect Journalists notes that Israel has not provided convincing evidence to support its version of events. Sara Qudah, the organisation’s Middle East director, said that such practices undermine trust in Israel’s intentions and its respect for freedom of speech.
Before his death, Al Sharif, who had more than 500,000 followers on X, reported more than two hours of intense shelling of Gaza. Hamas saw his death as a signal to start a new offensive.
Netanyahu’s new plans
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to eliminate Hamas strongholds amid growing hunger in the region after nearly two years of war. According to Gaza authorities, 237 journalists have been killed in the sector since October 2023. The Committee to Protect Journalists puts the number of media representatives killed at least 186.
Netanyahu also announced on August 7 his intention to take control of the entire Gaza Strip.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of France Unbowed (LFI), wrote on X:
“B. Netanyahu’s new provocation is an admission. From the outset, there has been talk of preparing for the annexation of the occupied territories, as the Knesset has just voted. This time, the whole world is turning against Netanyahu and his genocidal plan. Now we can win our battle to isolate the enemies of international law and the criminal supporters of the law of the strongest.”
Worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza
The worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, which arose during the latest escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in October 2023, threatens the food security of the entire population of the region.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), as of mid-July 2025, the number of people who died from starvation reached 180. Even before the current phase of the conflict, the region was struggling with food supplies, most of which came from humanitarian aid provided by the UN and other international organisations.
At the end of January 2025, many Palestinians began returning to the destroyed enclave. However, in March, Jerusalem completely blocked humanitarian imports into the sector, and residents were effectively prevented from leaving the territory due to closed border crossings and fighting.
The situation turned into a disaster, despite statements by the Israeli authorities that there was no threat of starvation for local residents. In May, the UN reported that food supplies to Gaza had resumed. According to UN food security experts, the “worst-case scenario” is now unfolding in Gaza.
Two of the three criteria for famine have been met: a significant decline in food consumption and acute malnutrition. The third criterion is mortality, signs of which are also already being observed in Gaza.
