Five Al Jazeera journalists were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a journalists' tent in Gaza City near the Al-Shifa Medical Complex. The strike occurred on Sunday night, targeting a location known to shelter media workers covering the Gaza conflict. Among the dead were well-known correspondent Anas al-Sharif, reporter Mohammed Qreiqeh, and camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa, all affiliated with Al Jazeera. The strike led to at least seven fatalities, including the five journalists, and left several others wounded, as reported by Gaza health authorities and hospital officials.

The Israeli military confirmed carrying out the strike, stating that it targeted Anas al-Sharif, whom they labeled a Hamas terrorist rather than a journalist. According to the Israeli military, al-Sharif was accused of leading a terrorist cell responsible for orchestrating rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and troops, disguising himself as a journalist to facilitate his activities. The military emphasized efforts to minimize civilian casualties during the operation but did not provide detailed evidence publicly. Israel's statement described the strike as a necessary counterterrorism measure.

Al Jazeera vehemently condemned the attack, describing it as a "targeted assassination" and a desperate attempt to silence independent media coverage of the Gaza conflict ahead of the potential occupation. The broadcaster highlighted that the journalists were reporting under extremely dangerous conditions in Gaza, where foreign press access is heavily restricted and local reporters bear the high risks of frontline coverage. Al-Sharif, 28, was recognized as one of Gaza’s most courageous and prominent Arabic-language journalists, regularly providing frontline reports on the Israeli bombardment and humanitarian situation until moments before his death.

The killing of the journalists has raised serious concerns over press freedom and the safety of media workers in conflict zones. Human rights and press freedom groups have noted that at least 200 media personnel have been killed in the Gaza conflict so far, making this one of the deadliest episodes for journalists in the area. Critics have challenged the Israeli military's labeling of journalists as combatants without transparent evidence, warning that such actions undermine international protections for journalists under international law. The incident starkly illustrates the perilous environment for journalists in Gaza amid ongoing hostilities and restricted access to independent reporting.