Israel is running two campaigns in Gaza: one for military control and another for narrative control, according to press freedom groups. With over 180 Palestinian journalists killed in 22 months of war, Gaza has become the most dangerous place for reporters, despite their protected status under international law.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reports that 26 journalists were victims of targeted killings, which it describes as murders. The latest was Anas al-Sharif, a prominent Al Jazeera correspondent, killed on Sunday in his makeshift newsroom outside a hospital alongside four colleagues. Press freedom groups say these killings are part of a campaign to silence vital reporting.
Israel has justified the attacks by claiming targets were undercover Hamas fighters, but critics say the evidence is unconvincing. International reporters are largely barred from independent reporting in Gaza, making the work of local journalists critical. CPJ chief executive Jodie Ginsberg said the prevention of international access and targeting of media facilities is a deliberate strategy to conceal what is happening in Gaza.
In July, Sharif went viral after breaking down on air covering starvation. An Israeli military spokesperson then revived allegations that he was a militant, which the CPJ called a death threat. Sharif anticipated his own death, writing on social media: 'If these words reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice.'
Israel published documents linking Sharif to Hamas, but they end in 2021 and do not address his live appearances. Ginsberg noted that Israel has not attempted to justify the killings of Sharif's four colleagues, warning that the risks for journalists have escalated further.
