IDF accuses slain Al Jazeera journalist of leading Hamas cell

Israel has accused a senior Al Jazeera reporter killed in Gaza of being a high-ranking Hamas operative – a charge the Qatari-based network has rejected as “false” and press freedom advocates warn has not been backed by publicised evidence.

Anas al-Sharif, a videographer for Al Jazeera Arabic, died alongside correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh and camera crew Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa when their tent was struck outside Gaza City’s Al-Shifa Hospital on Sunday.

The IDF said al-Sharif was the head of a Hamas cell directing rocket fire at Israeli civilians and soldiers, claiming that rosters, training lists and salary records recovered in Gaza proved his membership since 2019. In a statement, the military said:

“STRUCK: Hamas terrorist Anas Al-Sharif, who posed as an Al Jazeera journalist. Al-Sharif was the head of a Hamas terrorist cell and advanced rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and IDF troops. Intelligence and documents from Gaza… prove he was a Hamas operative integrated into Al Jazeera. A press badge isn’t a shield for terrorism.”

While the post included pictures of the supposed Hamas documents showing Al-Sharif’s membership of the group, no public documentation has yet been released to support the claim.

Al Jazeera described the strike as an “assassination” and dismissed the allegation as a “desperate attempt to silence the voices exposing the impending seizure and occupation of Gaza.”

A network spokesperson said: “The order to assassinate Anas Al Sharif, one of Gaza’s bravest journalists, and his colleagues, is a desperate attempt to silence the voices exposing the impending seizure and occupation of Gaza.”

It urged the international community to “take decisive measures to halt this ongoing genocide and end the deliberate targeting of journalists.”

After Al-Sharif’s death, an X post appeared on his account – reportedly prepared in advance – reading:

“If these words reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice… I entrust you with Palestine… until the sun of dignity and freedom rises over our stolen homeland.”

Separately, a post circulating online claimed to show a message from al-Sharif’s account urging followers to “remember that we hit them on the head in the middle of their military sites”, and including a picture of a foot placed on the head of a dead Israeli soldier.

A further series of alleged Telegram posts by Al-Sharif on 7 October 2023 included “9 hours and the heroes are still roaming the countryside killing and capturing. God, God how great you are”, as well as referring to the ongoing mass terror attack as “a struggle of victory and martyrdom.”

Another image circulating online appears to show al-Sharif posing for photographs alongside Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and other senior figures.

Jewish News has not independently verified the authenticity of these materials or their original source.