Israel has taken swift responsibility for the strike that killed Anas al Sharif, a journalist working for Al Jazeera, asserting that he was not merely a reporter but the head of a Hamas terrorist cell.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) issued a statement saying al Sharif had disguised himself as a journalist while coordinating rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and military personnel. The statement described Al Sharif as a Hamas operative “integrated into Al Jazeera.”
“Intelligence and documents recovered from Gaza — including rosters, terrorist training lists, and salary records — substantiate his role within Hamas,” the IDF said. “A press badge is not a shield for terrorism.”
However, these claims have faced criticism. Last month, UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan described Israel’s allegations as unsubstantiated. Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) stated that Israel has yet to provide concrete evidence supporting its accusations.
The killing of al Sharif has raised significant concerns among press freedom advocates, highlighting the risks faced by journalists reporting from conflict zones.
Editing by M10News International Desk | Contact: international@m10news.com
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