Anas al-Sharif had more than half a million followers on his X account, where he regularly shared updates about the war in Gaza.
Five Al Jazeera journalists were killed in an Israeli attack on Gaza city on Sunday, the network said. One of them was Anas al-Sharif, who had been reporting on the war in Gaza and was very popular on social media. The Israeli defense forces called him a “terrorist.”
Shortly after he died, a final message from al-Sharif’s account was posted. It was written on April 6 and meant to be shared if he died.
In the attack, Israeli forces targeted a tent where journalists were staying outside al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza city. Seven people were killed, including five Al Jazeera journalists.
The five journalists who died are: Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh, who were reporters, and Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa, who were camera operators.
Before he was killed, 28-year-old Anas al-Sharif said there was heavy bombing and that the “Israeli attacks have become stronger on Gaza City.” He also shared a video on his X account where you can hear many explosions.
Anas al-Sharif’s final message said: “I have lived through pain many times, but I never hesitated to tell the truth exactly as it is, without changing it.”
Mohammed Qreiqeh also covered the war with Anas al-Sharif. A Palestinian writer named Mosab Abu Toha shared that Qreiqeh was born in Gaza’s Shujaeeya neighborhood in 1992. He also shared a video of Qreiqeh reuniting with his family during a ceasefire in January. The video was recorded by Anas al-Sharif.
Al Jazeera condemned the killing of its journalists and called it a clear attack on press freedom.
They said, “The order to kill Anas al-Sharif and his colleagues is a desperate attempt to silence those reporting the truth about what is happening in Gaza.”
Al Jazeera added that because the people responsible are not punished, Israel feels encouraged to keep oppressing journalists who tell the truth.
