NUJP condemns killing of Al Jazeera journalists

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) on Tuesday, 12 August, condemned the killing of five Al Jazeera journalists in a targeted Israeli attack in a tent housing the media personnel in Gaza City.

Al Jazeera reported that the attack late Sunday, 10 August, killed its journalists Anas al-Sharif, correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh, and camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa.

The journalists were housed in a tent located outside the main gate of Gaza City's al-Shifa Hospital. Also among those reported killed was freelance reporter Mohammed al-Khaldi.

"That journalism is a dangerous profession, especially in a conflict zone, is no reason to wave away the journalism community's anger and disgust at the murder of our colleagues," NUJP said in a statement.

Israel's military accused al-Sharif of heading a Hamas cell and "advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and [Israeli] troops."

It also alleged that it had documents providing unequivocal proof" of his involvement with Hamas.

However, Muhammad Shehada, analyst at the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, said there was "zero evidence" that al-Sharif took part in any hostilities.

Shehada said in an Al Jazeera interview that the journalist's daily routine "was standing in front of a camera from morning to evening."

"The Israeli military's claim that Al Sharif headed a Hamas cell and was involved in rocket attacks to justify the killings and to further restrict reporting from within Gaza has comparisons to similar tactics used to intimidate, discredit and harass journalists, activists and rights defenders on our own shores," NUJP added.

As the NUJP condemned the killing of the Al Jazeera journalists, it urged Filipino journalists "to continue reporting on the situation in Gaza, including pressing representatives of the Philippines and [the] Israeli government on the issue."

Meanwhile, Al Jazeera Media Network condemned the killings as "yet another blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom."

“This attack comes amid the catastrophic consequences of the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza, which has seen the relentless slaughter of civilians, forced starvation, and the obliteration of entire communities,” the network said.

"The order to assassinate Anas Al Sharif, one of Gaza’s bravest journalists, and his colleagues, is a desperate attempt to silence the voices exposing the impending seizure and occupation of Gaza.”

More than 190 journalists and media workers have been killed in the Israel-Gaza war from 2023 to 2025, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists -- the deadliest period for press members since it began recording such data in 1992.