DayofPal-The Israeli army has designated six Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza as “terrorists,” alleging their connections to Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements.
Those named in this claim include Anas Sharif, Hossam Shabat, Alaa Salama, Talal Al-Arouqi, Ismail Abu Omar, and Ashraf Al-Sarraj.
Al Jazeera has vehemently denounced Israel’s accusations against its journalists, calling them unfounded and part of a broader effort to silence the few remaining media voices in Gaza.
The network asserts that these claims are a propaganda tactic designed to obscure the war crimes committed against Gaza civilians, especially in northern Gaza Strip.
Al Jazeera further emphasized that its journalists are the only international media professionals still documenting the severe humanitarian crisis resulting from the ongoing Israeli siege and indiscriminate attacks.
Rejecting the label of “terrorists,” the network pointed out the use of fabricated evidence to bolster these allegations, reiterating that their reporters are dedicated professionals bravely working in perilous conditions to expose the suffering of nearly two million people in Gaza.
Israel’s newly designation against Al Jazeera reporters is not the first attack, but is part of a wider Israeli crackdown on Palestinian journalists in Gaza since Israel launched its military operations on October 7, 2023.
A staggering 177 journalists have been killed by Israeli army since the onset of the war, including Al Jazeera correspondent Ismail Al-Ghoul, cameramen Samer Abu Daqa and Hamza Al-Dahdouh. These reporters were on the front lines, capturing the humanitarian crisis and the unfolding tragedy in Gaza.
Al Jazeera has already faced severe measures from Israel, including the closure of its Ramallah office last month. This crackdown forms part of a wider attempt to silence media outlets revealing the harsh truths of Israel’s assaults in Gaza.
Recently, journalists have faced intensifying threats, with Israeli drones directly targeting those in press gear. Among them was photographer Fadi Al-Wheidi, who was injured while documenting civilian evacuations near Jabalia.
In a different incident, photographer Ali Al-Attar sustained injuries from an Israeli airstrike that struck displaced civilians near Shuhada’ Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah.
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