Mourners gather in Gaza for funeral of 6 journalists killed by Israel

Gaza's residents gathered on Monday for the funeral of five Al Jazeera staff members and a sixth reporter killed in an Israeli strike, with Israel calling one of them a "terrorist" affiliated with Hamas.

Dozens stood amid bombed-out buildings in the courtyard of al-Shifa hospital to pay their respects to Anas al-Sharif, a prominent Al Jazeera correspondent aged 28, and four of his colleagues, killed on Sunday.

A sixth journalist, Mohammed al-Khaldi, who worked as a freelance reporter, was also killed in the strike that targeted the Al Jazeera team, according to the director of al-Shifa Hospital, Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya.

Their bodies, wrapped in white shrouds with their faces exposed, were carried through narrow alleys to their graves by mourners, including men wearing blue journalists' flak jackets.

Israel confirmed it had targeted Sharif, whom it labelled a "terrorist" affiliated with Hamas, saying he "posed as a journalist."

Al Jazeera said its employees were hit in a tent set up for journalists outside the main gate of a hospital in Gaza City. 

The four other staff members killed were Mohammed Qreiqeh, also a correspondent, and cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa.

"Anas Al-Sharif served as the head of a terrorist cell in the Hamas terrorist organization and was responsible for advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF [Israeli] troops," the military said in a statement.

"The [Israeli army] had previously disclosed intelligence information and many documents found in the Gaza Strip, confirming his military affiliation to Hamas," it said.

It published a graphic showing what it said was a list of Hamas operatives in northern Gaza, including Sharif's name, as well as an image of him emblazoned with the word: "Eliminated."

Al Jazeera, which is funded by the Qatari government, rejected the assertion, and before his death, Sharif had also rejected such claims by Israel.

A press freedom group and a United Nations expert previously warned that Sharif's life was in danger due to his reporting from Gaza. U.N. Special Rapporteur Irene Khan said last month that Israel's claims against him were unsubstantiated.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), which in July urged the international community to protect Sharif, said in a statement that Israel had failed to provide any evidence to back up its allegations against him.

Sharif was one of the channel's most recognizable faces working on the ground in Gaza, providing daily reports on the now 22-month-old war.

Mounting criticism

A posthumous message, written in April in case of his death, was published on his account on Monday morning saying he had been silenced and urging people "not to forget Gaza."

According to local journalists who knew him, Sharif had worked at the start of his career with a Hamas communication office, where his role was to publicize events organized by the militant group, which had run Gaza since 2006.

Following online posts by Israel's Arabic-language military spokesperson Avichai Adraee on Sharif, the Committee to Protect Journalists called in July for his protection, accusing Israel of a "pattern" of labeling journalists as militants "without providing credible evidence."

It said the Israeli military had leveled similar accusations against other journalists in Gaza earlier in the war, including other Al Jazeera staff.

Al Jazeera called the attack that killed Sharif "a desperate attempt to silence voices exposing the Israeli occupation," as it described Sharif as "one of Gaza's bravest journalists."

It also said it followed "repeated incitement and calls by multiple Israeli officials and spokespersons to target the fearless journalist Anas al-Sharif and his colleagues."

The U.N. human rights office condemned the killing of the journalists, saying the actions by Israel's military represented a "grave breach of international humanitarian law" as Palestinians reported the heaviest bombardments in weeks.

"Israel must respect and protect all civilians, including journalists," U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk's office said, noting that at least 242 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, while Reporters Without Borders says nearly 200 journalists have been killed in the war so far.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is "gravely concerned" about the repeated targeting of journalists in Gaza, his spokesperson said on Monday. "Reporters covering conflicts are afforded protection under international humanitarian law, and journalists must be able to report independently, without fear, and Israel must ensure journalists can carry out their work safely."

International reporters are prevented by Israel from traveling to Gaza, except on occasional, tightly controlled trips with the Israeli military.

The strike on the journalists came with criticism mounting over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to expand the war in the Gaza Strip.

'We will win'

The security cabinet voted last week to conquer the remaining quarter or so of the territory not yet controlled by Israeli troops, including much of Gaza City and Mawasi, the area designated a safe zone by Israel where huge numbers of Palestinians have sought refuge.

The plan, which Israeli media reported had triggered bitter disagreement between the government and military leadership, drew condemnation from protesters in Israel and numerous countries, including Israeli allies.

Notably, the plans caused Germany, a major weapons supplier and staunch ally, to suspend shipments to Israel of any arms that could be used in Gaza.

Australia said on Sunday it would join a growing list of Western nations in recognizing a Palestinian state.

Despite the diplomatic reversals, Netanyahu remained defiant.

"We will win the war, with or without the support of others," he told journalists on Sunday.

He also retained the backing of Israel's most important ally, the United States, with President Donald Trump saying on Tuesday any military plans were "pretty much up to Israel".

'Another calamity'

The United Nations and humanitarian agencies have condemned the planned expansion.

"If these plans are implemented, they will likely trigger another calamity in Gaza," U.N. Assistant Secretary General Miroslav Jenca told the Security Council on Sunday.

U.N. agencies warned last month that famine was unfolding in the territory, with Israel severely restricting the entry of aid.

Israel's offensive has killed at least 61,430 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, figures the United Nations says are reliable.