Overview

• On August 10, an Israeli airstrike on a media tent outside al-Shifa hospital killed six journalists, including Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif, prompting widespread condemnation.
• The Israel Defense Forces have accused some of the slain reporters of Hamas affiliations without presenting publicly vetted evidence, a claim rejected by press freedom groups demanding independent investigations.
• An April study by Brown University’s Watson Institute reporting record journalist fatalities in Gaza has faced scrutiny for methodological errors and flawed historical comparisons, drawing criticism of high-profile figures who shared its findings.
• An investigation by +972 Magazine and Middle East Eye alleges that the IDF formed a “Legitimisation Cell” in October 2023 to produce counter-narratives portraying Palestinian journalists as militants.
• Al-Sharif’s family revealed that Israel offered him safe passage from Gaza if he ceased reporting, an offer he declined as he continued covering the conflict.