In one of the deadliest single attacks on media workers during the ongoing Israel-Gaza war, an Israeli airstrike near Al-Shifa Hospital killed five Al Jazeera journalists, including Anas al-Sharif, a prominent correspondent. Israel accused al-Sharif of being a Hamas operative, an allegation Al Jazeera strongly denies.

This strike marks a dark chapter in a war where at least 190 journalists and media workers have been killed since October 2023, the vast majority being Palestinians killed by Israeli forces.

Israel’s Airstrike Kills 5 Al Jazeera Journalists
Israel’s Airstrike Kills 5 Al Jazeera Journalists


The August 10, 2025 Airstrike

Location: Vicinity of Al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza City

Time: Approximately 2:45 PM local time

Casualties: 5 Al Jazeera journalists killed, several others injured

Victims Include: Anas al-Sharif (Correspondent), Ahmad al-Khatib (Cameraman), and three field producers whose names were confirmed later by Al Jazeera.

Israeli Justification: Alleged Hamas links among the journalists (no public evidence provided).


Casualty Overview Since 2023

Total Journalists Killed: 190+ (as of August 12, 2025)

Year 2025 Death Toll: At least 13 journalists killed by Israeli strikes

Majority: Palestinian reporters, camera operators, and freelancers working in Gaza

Notable Incident: The August 10 strike is one of the largest single-day journalist death tolls in the history of the conflict.


International Reactions

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

Called the killings “deliberate and systematic targeting of journalists”, labeling it a violation of international humanitarian law and a potential war crime.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

Demanded an independent investigation into the August 10 strike, urging the UN to deploy fact-finding missions in Gaza.

Al Jazeera Media Network

Condemned the strike as “a blatant attempt to silence the truth”, promising to pursue legal action in international courts.

United Nations

The UN’s Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression stated that the attack “constitutes a grave breach of the Geneva Conventions if proven deliberate”.


Impact on Press Freedom

The Gaza war has crippled independent reporting. International journalists face restricted access, meaning Palestinian reporters are the primary source of frontline coverage.
The systematic killing of journalists:

Limits the flow of verified information

Leaves global audiences reliant on state narratives

Raises serious questions about war transparency

FAQ's

1. How many journalists have been killed in the Gaza war?

Over 190 journalists have been killed since October 2023, most of them Palestinians.

2. Why is the August 10, 2025 incident significant?

It’s one of the deadliest single-day attacks on journalists, killing 5 Al Jazeera staff in a targeted strike.

3. What does Israel say about these killings?

Israel claims some journalists are militants or linked to Hamas, but these claims often lack public evidence.

4. What do press freedom groups say?

Organizations like CPJ and RSF call these attacks deliberate war crimes and demand independent investigations.

5. Has there been any accountability?

So far, no independent international investigation has conclusively held Israel accountable for journalist killings in Gaza.