Israeli Army Labels Al Jazeera Journalists in Gaza ‘Terrorists’ Amid Ongoing of Ethnic Cleansing

Gaza (Quds News Network)- The Israeli army has officially labeled six Al Jazeera journalists working in Gaza as “terrorists,” accusing them of links to Hamas and IJ movements. The journalists targeted by this claim include Anas Sharif, Hossam Shabat, Alaa Salama, Talal Al-Arouqi, Ismail Abu Omar, and Ashraf Al-Sarraj.

This labeling comes amidst a broader Israeli campaign against Palestinian journalists in Gaza. Since the start of Israel’s military operations on October 7, 2023, Israeli forces have killed 177 journalists, including Al Jazeera correspondent Ismail Al-Ghoul and cameramen Samer Abu Daqa and Hamza Al-Dahdouh. These journalists were documenting the humanitarian crisis and the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Al Jazeera’s offices have already faced severe actions from Israel, including the closure of its Ramallah office last month. This crackdown is part of a broader effort to silence media outlets exposing the brutal realities of Israel’s attacks in Gaza. In recent weeks, journalists have faced escalating threats, with Israeli drones directly targeting journalists wearing press gear, such as photographer Fadi Al-Wheidi, who was injured while documenting civilian evacuations near Jabalia.

In a separate incident, Ali Al-Attar, another photographer, was injured by an Israeli airstrike that hit displaced civilians near Shuhada’ Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah.

Al Jazeera has strongly condemned Israel’s accusations against its journalists, calling them false and part of an effort to silence the few remaining media voices on the ground in Gaza. The network emphasized that these accusations are part of a propaganda campaign aimed at covering up the war crimes committed against civilians in Gaza. Al Jazeera reminded the public that its journalists are the only international media professionals still documenting the dire humanitarian crisis caused by the ongoing siege and indiscriminate attacks on civilians.

The network rejected Israeli claims that its journalists are “terrorists,” highlighting the use of fabricated evidence to support the accusations. They reiterated that their reporters are dedicated professionals working under extreme danger to reveal the truth about the suffering of nearly two million people in Gaza.

Israeli campaign against Palestinian journalist

In response, media rights organizations, including the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA), condemned the Israeli army’s incitement campaign against Al Jazeera journalists. MADA stated that these threats come amid a broader effort to suppress independent reporting and prevent the exposure of Israeli military violations.

Furthermore, the Center for Social Media Monitoring (Sada Social) noted a rise in digital incitement against journalists, with settlers groups openly calling for their killing on platforms like Telegram. This incitement, coupled with physical violence against journalists, represents a direct threat to their lives and aims to intimidate them into abandoning their work.

Sada Social emphasized that these actions constitute grave violations of international humanitarian law, particularly Article 79 of the Additional Protocol I of the Geneva Conventions, which mandates the protection of journalists in conflict zones. The killing of 177 journalists in Gaza underscores Israel’s systematic attempt to silence the press and prevent the world from witnessing its military actions.

potential assassination attempts

Hossam Shabat, one of the targeted Al Jazeera journalists, denounced the accusations, stressing that they are fabricated and a prelude to potential assassination attempts. He urged international media organizations to show solidarity with Gaza’s journalists, who are under constant threat while documenting the region’s ongoing humanitarian disaster.

The Government Media Office in Gaza issued a statement condemning Israel’s direct incitement against journalists, stating that Israel is spreading false information to discredit their work. The office highlighted that the Israeli army has repeatedly misrepresented data, including listing young Palestinian journalists as “militant leaders” without any credible evidence.

The office also called on international press unions and media organizations to condemn the ongoing Israeli attacks on journalists and hold Israel accountable for the incitement, which often leads to lethal outcomes.

In light of these ongoing threats, Palestinian media and rights groups urged the global community to take immediate action to ensure the safety of journalists working in Gaza, who continue to face both physical and digital threats for simply reporting the realities of the conflict. The groups stressed that protecting journalists is essential for maintaining a free press, particularly in conflict zones, where their work is critical to exposing human rights violations and war crimes.