Israel’s Strike on Journalists in Gaza: Allegations, International Outrage, and the Shadow of the Greater Israel Project
On August 10, 2025, an Israeli airstrike targeted a tent housing journalists near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, killing five Al Jazeera journalists—Anas al-Sharif, Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa—along with a sixth freelance reporter, Mohammed al-Khaldi.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed that Anas al-Sharif was a Hamas operative posing as a journalist, alleging he led a rocket-launching cell within the group’s East Jabalia Battalion. However, no credible evidence has been publicly presented to substantiate these claims, prompting widespread condemnation from the international community, press freedom organizations, and media outlets.
This incident underscores Israel’s pattern of targeting journalists, its perceived impunity backed by U.S. support, and its urgency to advance the controversial “Greater Israel” project amid growing anti-Israel sentiment on social media and potential shifts in American political dynamics.
The Strike: Allegations Without Evidence
The airstrike obliterated a tent clearly marked as a press encampment, where journalists were stationed to cover the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Anas al-Sharif, a prominent Al Jazeera correspondent, was a primary target, according to the IDF, which claimed he was a Hamas terrorist responsible for rocket attacks. The IDF cited documents allegedly seized in Gaza, including rosters and training lists, as proof of Sharif’s affiliation.
These documents, however, have not been independently verified, and their authenticity remains unconfirmed by neutral parties. Al Jazeera, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) have dismissed the allegations as baseless, accusing Israel of using unverified claims to justify the killing.
Witnesses described a horrific scene: the tent was eviscerated by missiles, with one journalist, Mohammed Qreiqeh, engulfed in flames as colleagues desperately tried to save him. Another journalist was killed while sitting in a chair, and shrapnel struck others nearby. A survivor, Saed, told The Independent that the explosion threw him to the ground, and he saw Sharif’s lifeless body amid the chaos. The tent was a known journalists’ hub, raising suspicions of deliberate targeting.
The IDF’s claim that Sharif was a Hamas operative echoes previous accusations against other journalists, such as Ismail al-Ghoul, killed in July 2024, whom Israel also labeled a terrorist without providing credible evidence. The CPJ noted that Israel’s pattern of accusing journalists of militancy without substantiation is a tactic to discredit their reporting and justify attacks. Jodie Ginsberg, CPJ’s chief executive, told Sky News that Israel has failed to provide “any credible evidence” for its claims against Sharif, a sentiment echoed by the UN and press freedom groups.
International Condemnation and Israel’s Defiance
The international community reacted with near-unanimous outrage. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, called the strike a “grave breach of international humanitarian law,” noting that at least 242 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023. The UN demanded an independent investigation, a call supported by the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, who emphasized the need for “clear evidence” to justify Israel’s allegations.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office expressed grave concern, stating that journalists are protected under international law and must work without fear. Qatar’s Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, condemned the killings as “crimes beyond imagination.”
Press freedom organizations were equally vocal. RSF accused Israel of “deliberate murder,” pointing to a pattern of targeting journalists to suppress coverage of Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. The CPJ labeled the killings a war crime, noting that Israel’s refusal to allow international journalists into Gaza leaves Palestinian reporters as the primary source of on-the-ground reporting, making them particularly vulnerable. The Foreign Press Association and Al Jazeera itself described the strike as a “targeted assassination” to silence voices exposing Israel’s actions.
Despite this global outcry, Israel remains defiant. The IDF reiterated its stance on X, stating, “Jihadi terrorists with cameras are not journalists. We will hunt the jihadists, not protect their cover.” Israeli opposition leader Benny Gantz defended the strike, arguing that Hamas accomplices posing as journalists should be “eliminated.” This arrogance stems from Israel’s confidence in its unwavering support from the United States, which has historically shielded it from international accountability.
U.S. Support and Israel’s Perceived Impunity
Israel’s actions are underpinned by robust American backing, which includes military aid, diplomatic cover, and a reluctance to criticize Israel’s conduct in Gaza. The U.S. has provided billions in military assistance annually, including advanced weaponry used in Gaza operations. Despite calls from dozens of U.S. lawmakers to allow international journalists access to Gaza, the Biden administration has not pressed Israel on this issue, effectively enabling the exclusion of foreign media and the targeting of local reporters.
Qatar, home to a major U.S. military base, hosts Al Jazeera, yet the U.S. has not challenged Israel’s accusations against the network or its journalists, even as it mediates ceasefire talks involving Hamas.
This perceived impunity allows Israel to act with little regard for international criticism. The Israeli government’s decision to shut down Al Jazeera’s local offices in May 2024, citing the network as an “incitement channel,” faced no significant U.S. pushback. Critics argue that Israel exploits this support to pursue aggressive policies, including the targeting of journalists, knowing that the U.S. will not impose consequences like sanctions or reduced aid. This dynamic emboldens Israel to dismiss international calls for accountability, as seen in its response to the UN, EU, and press freedom groups.
The Greater Israel Project and Social Media Backlash
Israel’s actions in Gaza, including the journalist killings, are increasingly viewed through the lens of the “Greater Israel” project—a controversial vision among some Israeli hardliners to expand territorial control over historic Palestine, parts of Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. Recent moves, such as Israel’s plan to conquer Gaza City and displace over 1 million Palestinians, have fueled speculation that the government is accelerating this agenda. The targeting of journalists, who document these actions, is seen by critics as an attempt to control the narrative and obscure policies that could be interpreted as steps toward territorial expansion.
However, Israel faces a growing challenge: the saturation of anti-Israel content on social media platforms like X, TikTok, and Instagram. Posts on X following the August 10 strike condemned Israel’s actions, with users like @decolonize123 accusing the IDF of fabricating Hamas links to justify war crimes. Others, like @robinaqureshi, highlighted Israel’s pattern of killing journalists and smearing them posthumously without evidence. Anas al-Sharif’s own posthumous message, shared on X, urged followers not to forget Gaza, amplifying his reporting on starvation and displacement.
This surge in anti-Israel sentiment is reshaping global perceptions, particularly among younger audiences who rely on social media for news. Graphic footage of Gaza’s destruction, shared by journalists like Sharif, has garnered millions of views, fueling outrage and calls for accountability. Israel’s attempts to counter this narrative—such as IDF posts claiming Sharif was a Hamas operative—have been met with skepticism, as users demand verified evidence. The growing traction of these posts suggests that Israel’s control over the narrative is slipping, prompting urgency to advance its strategic goals before global opinion shifts further.