The Israel Defense Forces announced it killed the head of a Hamas terrorist cell who has been simultaneously working as a journalist for Al Jazeera.
On Sunday evening, the IDF confirmed the death of 28-year-old Anas al Sharif, a prominent Gazan journalist who had been working with the Qatar-based Arabic media outlet, after strikes on Gaza City.
In an X post, Israel’s military said Sharif’s journalism credentials were merely a cover for his service in Hamas, the terrorist group that controls the Gaza Strip.
“Al-Sharif was the head of a Hamas terrorist cell and advanced rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and IDF troops. Intelligence and documents from Gaza, including rosters, terrorist training lists and salary records, prove he was a Hamas operative integrated into Al Jazeera,” the IDF said.
Some of that intelligence was shared with the public last year, which showed that Sharif, along with five other Al Jazeera journalists, were operatives for Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups.
One other journalist was reportedly killed in the Sunday strikes, specifically Mohammed Qreiqeh, who was a correspondent for the outlet. Qreigeh, whose death was not mentioned in the IDF’s announcement, was also not listed in the IDF’s initial intelligence assessment. Two camera operators, Ibrahim Zaher and Mohammed Noufal, were killed as well.
NETANYAHU ORDERS IDF TO SHORTEN TIME FRAME FOR SEIZING GAZA CITY IN DEFENSE OF NEW OFFENSIVE
The IDF strikes come as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has launched a new offensive in his war against Hamas, with the goal of taking control of Gaza City and clearing out the Hamas terrorists remaining in the area.
Earlier on Sunday, Netanyahu shortened the time frame for that operation, which will reportedly take up to five months.
