The Life, Work, and Tragic Death of Anas Al-Sharif: A Voice for Gaza

Anas Jamal Al-Sharif, a 28-year-old Palestinian journalist and videographer for Al Jazeera Arabic, was killed on August 11, 2025, in an Israeli airstrike targeting a journalists’ tent outside Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. His death, alongside four colleagues—Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa—marked one of the deadliest attacks on media personnel since the onset of the Israel-Gaza conflict in October 2023.

Al-Sharif’s fearless reporting from northern Gaza made him a prominent voice, documenting the humanitarian crisis and alleged war crimes despite persistent threats to his life. This article explores his life, his journalistic contributions, the circumstances of his death, and the broader implications for press freedom in Gaza, drawing on recent updates and his final message to the world.

Early Life and Career

Born in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, Anas Al-Sharif grew up amid the challenges of life under occupation. He graduated from Al-Aqsa University with a degree in mass communication, specializing in radio and television. His career began as a volunteer at Al-Shamal Media Network, but his talent and dedication soon led him to become Al Jazeera’s northern Gaza correspondent. In 2018, he received the Best Young Journalist Award in Palestine for his reporting, a testament to his early impact in the field.

Al-Sharif’s work focused on amplifying the voices of Palestinians in Gaza, particularly in the north, where he chose to remain despite the escalating dangers. His dispatches provided a critical window into the region’s humanitarian crisis, including famine, displacement, and the destruction caused by Israeli military operations. His commitment to reporting “the truth as it is, without distortion or falsification” earned him widespread recognition but also made him a target.

Threats and Persecution

Throughout his career, Al-Sharif faced relentless threats from Israeli forces. In November 2023, he reported receiving phone calls, WhatsApp messages, and voice notes from Israeli military personnel revealing his exact location and warning him to leave northern Gaza. Despite these intimidations, he vowed to continue his work, stating, “I will not leave the field. I will continue reporting from north Gaza.”

In December 2023, tragedy struck when an Israeli airstrike on his family home in Jabalia killed his 90-year-old father, Jamal Al-Sharif. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan later warned that Al-Sharif was being targeted through a “smear campaign” by the Israeli military, which accused him of being a Hamas operative—a claim Al Jazeera and human rights groups, including Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, dismissed as baseless. The CPJ noted that Israel provided no credible evidence to support these allegations, which were seen as an attempt to “manufacture consent” for his assassination.

In July 2025, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Avichai Adraee posted a video on X accusing Al-Sharif of being part of Hamas’ military wing. Al-Sharif refuted this, asserting on X, “I, Anas Al-Sharif, am a journalist with no political affiliations. My only mission is to report the truth from the ground—as it is, without bias.” He highlighted the famine ravaging Gaza, noting that “speaking the truth has become, in the eyes of the occupation, a threat.”

The Fatal Strike

On August 11, 2025, shortly after midnight, an Israeli airstrike targeted a tent housing journalists outside Al-Shifa Hospital, killing Al-Sharif and his four colleagues. Moments before his death, Al-Sharif posted on X about the “relentless bombardment” and “intense, concentrated Israeli bombardment using ‘fire belts’” in Gaza City. The strike, which also killed two others, damaged part of the hospital’s emergency department, according to hospital director Dr. Muhammad Abu Salmiya.

The IDF confirmed the strike, claiming Al-Sharif was the “head of a terrorist cell in Hamas” responsible for rocket attacks. However, Al Jazeera, the CPJ, and other organizations condemned the attack as a “targeted assassination” and a “blatant attack on press freedom.”

Al Jazeera stated that the journalists were “targeted in their tent, they weren’t covering from the front line,” emphasizing that the strike was a deliberate attempt to silence reporting on Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. Analyst Muhammed Shehada of Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor noted there was “zero evidence” of Al-Sharif’s involvement in hostilities, pointing out that his daily routine revolved around reporting.

Al-Sharif’s Final Message

Following his death, a pre-written message, described as his “last will and testament,” was posted on his X account by administrators. Written on April 6, 2025, it reflected his awareness of the dangers he faced and his unwavering commitment to his mission. The message read, in part:

“If these words reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice. … I have lived through pain in all its details, tasted suffering and loss many times, yet I never once hesitated to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or falsification—so that Allah may bear witness against those who stayed silent, those who accepted our killing,

those who choked our breath, and whose hearts were unmoved by the scattered remains of our children and women, doing nothing to stop the massacre that our people have faced for more than a year and a half. … I entrust you with Palestine—the jewel in the crown of the Muslim world, the heartbeat of every free person in this world. … Do not forget Gaza… And do not forget me in your sincere prayers for forgiveness and acceptance.”

In the message, Al-Sharif entrusted the care of his wife, Bayan Khalid, and their two children, Sham and Salah, to his community. He also paid tribute to his mother, whose prayers he credited for his strength, and expressed his longing to see his children grow and return to his ancestral hometown of Asqalan (al-Majdal).

Impact and Legacy

Al-Sharif’s death has drawn global condemnation, with organizations like the CPJ, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and the UN calling for accountability. The CPJ reported that at least 186 journalists have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, with RSF estimating over 200, making 2024 the deadliest year on record for journalists. Al Jazeera noted that 10 of its journalists have been killed during the conflict, including prominent figures like Ismail al-Ghoul and Samer Abudaqqa.

The attack came hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to expand military operations in Gaza, raising fears of further humanitarian devastation. Critics, including the World Health Organization and the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network, warned that such actions would exacerbate the crisis, with over 61,000 Palestinians killed and 90% of Gaza’s infrastructure destroyed since October 2023.

Mouin Rabbani, co-editor of Jadaliyya, condemned the strike, noting that Al-Sharif and his colleagues “knew they had targets on their backs” but continued their work with “extraordinary courage.” He criticized Western media for often accepting Israel’s claims without scrutiny, perpetuating a narrative that justifies attacks on journalists.

Broader Context: Press Freedom in Gaza

The killing of Al-Sharif and his colleagues underscores the extreme dangers faced by journalists in Gaza. The CPJ and RSF have documented a pattern of targeted attacks, with Israel accused of using smear campaigns to justify killings. The closure of Al Jazeera’s operations in Israel in May 2024 and the barring of foreign journalists from Gaza since October 2023 have further restricted independent reporting. Hamas described the strike as a “premeditated” act to pave the way for further military operations, while Al Jazeera called it a “war against the press.”

Conclusion

Anas Al-Sharif’s life and work embodied the resilience and courage of Palestinian journalists in Gaza. Despite threats, personal loss, and a relentless smear campaign, he remained committed to documenting the truth. His death is not only a personal tragedy but a stark reminder of the ongoing assault on press freedom in conflict zones. As he wrote in his final message, “Do not forget Gaza.” His legacy endures through his reporting, his words, and the call to action he left behind for justice and liberation in Palestine.