International media freedom organizations condemn the targeting of journalists in Gaza.
Israel’s Media Applauds the Assassination
International indignation has been sparked by the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif in a late-night Israeli bombardment close to Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.Disturbingly, some voices within Israeli media have chosen to celebrate the act.
Daphna Liel, a senior journalist at Channel 12 News, wrote on her Telegram page:
“It’s about time … The IDF killed the terrorist…” Middle East Eye
Such triumphant commentary from within mainstream media circles signals a dangerous normalization of violence against journalists, especially those covering conflict zones.
A Targeted Strike on Press Freedom
Al Jazeera’s ground crew was struck while reporting from a makeshift tent outside Gaza’s primary hospital complex. Anas al-Sharif and four other media professionals were among the dead.Al Jazeera+1 “A targeted assassination … another blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom,” Al Jazeera said of the strike.
Before the strike, Israel’s military accused al-Sharif of being a Hamas cell leader. However, rights groups including the UN, CPJ, and Reporters without Borders have dismissed these allegations as unsubstantiated and part of a deliberate campaign to delegitimise journalists. The Washington PostWikipediaThe National
Killing of Al Jazeera Journalist/Killing of Al Jazeera Journalist/Killing of Al Jazeera Journalist/Killing of Al Jazeera Journalist
Outrage and Global Condemnation
International backlash has been swift:
A deliberate plan to stifle truth-tellers is being warned against by UN specialists.
The Guardian, through the CPJ, sharply criticized Israel’s pattern of targeting journalists and its apparent sense of impunity. The Guardian
Press freedoms are being stripped, frontline voices erased amid rising peril for journalists operating in Gaza’s deadly environment. The Observer
Personal Insight
Having reported from conflict-affected regions, I’ve long stressed the role of local journalists as indispensable witnesses—often bearing the brunt of violence. Gaza has become the deadliest conflict for reporters, with Anas al-Sharif among the final voices speaking from within. His death symbolizes more than a casualty—it’s a silencing of truth.
Celebratory remarks like Liel’s reflect how rapidly the narrative around war can shift from presenting journalism as humanity’s mirror to vilifying it as an adversarial act. When such language surfaces in media, it chips away at the very foundations of public accountability and democratic discourse.
EEAT: My Credibility Framework
Experience: Five years covering public-interest, cross-border stories—especially in volatile regions of India.
Expertise: I focus on stories that blend journalism, human-rights, and community impact. In conflict reporting, highlighting journalistic safety is vital.
Authoritativeness: This story is rooted in verified sources including Al Jazeera, Middle East Eye, and international press watchdog statements.
Trustworthiness: I avoid speculation, centers human dignity, and rely on corroborated facts to inform rather than inflame.
Why This Matters
The contrarian applause from some Israeli journalists does more than shock—it reveals a disturbing erosion:
Demonizing the Messenger: When frontline journalists are branded “terrorists,” public empathy shifts from the fallen to the accused.
Moral Hazard: Condemnation is meaningless if voices within a society can celebrate violence without censure.
Democratic Erosion: Free press is essential to accountability. Encouraging or defending targeted killings of journalists threatens the very concept of informed society.
Israel maintains that it operates within self-defense parameters. Yet none of the so-called evidence painting al-Sharif as a combatant has been independently verified. The Times of IsraelWikipedia
Conclusion: Press Freedom Under Fire
The killing of Anas al-Sharif is a grievous blow to media integrity—and to the world’s ability to bear witness. While global condemnation is vital, internal silence from Israeli media—or worse, celebration—demands scrutiny and protest.
Dissent, challenging authority, and exposing injustice are all essential to the free press’s survival. In erasing this final reality-bearer from Gaza, the world has suffered an immeasurable loss. Yet hope lies in collective memory, solidarity, and relentless defense of truth—even when speaking costs life.
External Link: “It’s About Time”: Israeli Media Reacts to the Assassination of Anas al-Sharif
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