Israel Kills Five Al Jazeera Journalists in Gaza Airstrike

An Israeli airstrike on a press tent outside al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza killed five Al Jazeera journalists, including prominent correspondent Anas al-Sharif, as well as two others. Israel's military accused al-Sharif of being a Hamas terrorist and leading a militant cell responsible for attacks against Israeli civilians and troops, presenting intelligence documents to support their claim. Al Jazeera and other organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists and the United Nations, condemned the strike as a deliberate attack on journalists and a breach of international law, denying Israel's allegations of militant affiliation. Hundreds of mourners gathered in Gaza to honor the deceased journalists, who were described by Al Jazeera as victims targeted for bearing witness to the conflict. The incident highlights the ongoing dangers faced by journalists covering the Israel-Hamas war, with over 180 journalists reportedly killed since October 2023, most by Israeli forces. The debate over the journalists' affiliations remains highly contested amid accusations of propaganda and terrorism versus press freedom violations.