Israeli Strike Kills Five Al Jazeera Journalists in Gaza

At least five Al Jazeera journalists, including correspondent Anas al-Sharif, were killed in an Israeli strike near Gaza City's Al-Shifa Hospital. The Israeli military claimed al-Sharif and other slain journalists were Hamas operatives using journalism as cover, citing intelligence linking them to terrorist activities. Al Jazeera, media watchdogs, the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate, and Gaza’s Hamas-run government rejected these allegations and condemned the killings as an attack on press freedom and a deliberate effort to silence reporting. The incident has intensified criticism of Israel’s conduct and raised concerns over the safety of journalists in Gaza, where foreign media are barred from independent coverage. Nearly 200 journalists have reportedly been killed since the conflict began. Al-Sharif's final messages expressed fear of being targeted, which has further amplified scrutiny of Israel's actions.