Why Israel Targeted Anas al-Sharif and Other Journalists: Experts Explain

Why Israel Targeted Anas al-Sharif and Other Journalists: Experts Explain

Features August 11, 2025
Why Israel Targeted Anas al-Sharif and Other Journalists: Experts Explain
Israeli forces killed Al Jazeera correspondents Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqa on Sunday. Four other journalists were also killed in the same strike. The attack targeted a tent used by reporters outside Gaza’s al-Shifa Hospital. The killings followed weeks of public incitement against Al Jazeera staff. Israeli army spokesperson for Arabic media, Avichay Adraee, repeatedly singled out al-Sharif. He accused him of “spreading false propaganda” and supporting “terrorist agendas.” After the strike, Israel admitted to the crime and released conflicting statements. Officials labeled al-Sharif a “Nukhba unit militant,” a “soldier,” a “group commander,” and a “combatant.” Another claim described him as “a cell leader in Hamas’s anti-tank unit” and “leader of a rocket-launching cell.” Israel’s narrative carried these contradictions without even trying to sound convincing.

Silencing Foreign Media

Palestinian writer and political analyst Mohammad Alqeeq told Quds News Network that the assassination aimed to deter foreign reporters. “Netanyahu said he would allow media into Gaza to see the facts,” Alqeeq noted. “The main goal was to send a message: there is no safe place and anyone who insists on telling the truth will be hunted.”

Killing the Messenger

Israeli affairs researcher Mohannad Mustafa described Israel as “militarily brutal but morally fragile.” He said Israel knows well that it’s justification for its crime was not convincing, adding that Gaza’s reality, especially the starvation campaign, exposed Israel’s fragility. “Anas al-Sharif and his colleagues showed the world these crimes. Netanyahu’s weakness was clear in his press conference yesterday to international media. Israel decided to kill the truth and its messenger.” Mustafa added that Israel now views everything in Gaza through a security lens. “Even the survival of Gaza’s people is seen as a threat. For Israel, truth is more dangerous than fighters.”

A Prelude to a Bigger Crime

Researcher Saeed Ziad called the assassination “a prelude to the larger genocide Israel is preparing against those still alive in Gaza.” He said Israel wanted to “cut the voice before starting the crime.” Political analyst Ahmed al-Heila stressed that this was part of a broader strategy. “The occupation killed 236 journalists in Gaza in 22 months,” he said. “In World War II, only about 150 journalists were killed in six years. Israel wants to kill the truth before its next military operation.” Al-Heila also noted the deliberate targeting of a press tent. “They bombed journalists at al-Shifa Hospital to hide what their upcoming assault might bring.” The murder of Anas al-Sharif was not random. It was a calculated strike against those documenting Gaza’s reality. Experts agree: a fragile Israel wanted to destroy the story and the storyteller.

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