By Rohan Gunaratna
Introduction
Hamas is not an exception to this. In the past, terrorist groups have infiltrated both domestic and international media. The Israeli Defence Force (IDF), about a year ago found in the Gaza Strip a computer with the entire Hamas manpower database.
The details of Anas al-Sharif, 28, were found in this database.
The IDF also recovered documents providing proof of the integration of Hamas members within media, NGOs and even international organisations. Along with four other journalists, al Sharif was killed by an Israeli strike near Gaza City’s Al-Shifa Hospital on August 10, 2025. The question many are asking is if IDF targeted al-Sharif, a Hamas member operating as a journalist.
The Context
The IDF eliminated Anas al-Sharif — Hamas commander, rocket planner, and Al Jazeera “journalist.” The IDF also claimed that Anas al-Sharif used a camera as cover for promoting terror activities. The IDF investigation revealed that Anas al-Sharif directed rocket fire at civilians & soldiers. He was on the Hamas payroll, and IDF revealed that he trained in Hamas camps.
The IDF revealed that the intelligence it developed and the documents they recovered prove deep ties between Hamas and the Qatari-run Al Jazeera. As Hamas fights with rockets and propaganda, IDF claimed that Al Jazeera provides the lens. Qatar owned Al Jazeera is not welcome in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt.
The Context
The IDF eliminated Anas al-Sharif — Hamas commander, rocket planner, and Al Jazeera “journalist.” The IDF also claimed that Anas al-Sharif used a camera as cover for promoting terror activities. The IDF investigation revealed that Anas al-Sharif directed rocket fire at civilians & soldiers. He was on the Hamas payroll, and IDF revealed that he trained in Hamas camps.
The IDF revealed that the intelligence it developed and the documents they recovered prove deep ties between Hamas and the Qatari-run Al Jazeera. As Hamas fights with rockets and propaganda, IDF claimed that Al Jazeera provides the lens. Qatar owned Al Jazeera is not welcome in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt.
The IDF spokesman provided detailed documents and evidence proving al Shariff was the head of a long range rocket launching unit of the Eastern Jabalia brigade. al Shariff was eliminated because he was a member of Hamas military wing. As an Al Jazeera reporter, he used it as a cover for his military role in Hamas. Many such “reporters” documented the atrocities of Hamas on October 7. al Shariff’s connections with Hamas provided him with unique access to Hamas leadership. This included unique photos he uploaded together with Sinwar. He had exclusive access to events and documentation including release of Israeli hostages. He uploaded the photographs of the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023.
Anas al-Sharif killed in an IDF strike was one of Al Jazeera’s most prominent journalists in the Gaza Strip. The IDF previously revealed that al-Sharif is a Hamas operative. The IDF recovered documents providing proof of the integration of the Hamas terrorist within Qatari’s Al Jazeera network.
Background
Anas al-Sharif killed in an IDF strike was one of Al Jazeera’s most prominent journalists in the Gaza Strip. As a journalist, Al-Sharif had unprecedented access.
IDF has presented documents that show 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 troops.
The IDF had previously disclosed intelligence information and many documents found in the Gaza Strip, confirming his military affiliation to Hamas.
Additional documents once again confirm his involvement in terrorist activities, which Al Jazeera network has attempted to disassociate itself. The evidence is overwhelming of Anas Al Sharif’s complicity in Hamas and its activities.
Al Sharif, going by the designation an “Al Jazeera correspondent” in a message, .celebrated the murder of soldiers on October 7th and the desecration of their bodies.
Additionally, a Gazan Telegram group claims al-Sharif would rat out anti-Hamas Gazans to the Al Qassam Brigades to have them executed.
Walking Dead
Israel never forgives their enemies. In their eyes, punishment must follow crime. To the Israelis, especially after October 7, 2023, Hamas and their allies should pay a price for their crimes.
Before he was killed in Gaza City, IDF revealed that al-Sharif is a Hamas operative. As such, he lived in persistent fear. As an enemy of Israel, he was “walking dead”. Al-Sharif made a last post on social media reporting about his death. “This my last will and testament, my final message. If these words of mine reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice. Peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you. God knows that I have exerted all my effort and strength to be a support and voice for my people, ever since I opened my eyes to life in the alleys and neighborhoods of Jabalia refugee camp,” the post read.
“God’s will was supreme and his judgement was final”.
“I have lived the pain in all its details, and I have tasted the pain and loss repeatedly. Despite this, I have never hesitated to convey the truth as it is, without falsification or distortion. May God be a witness against those who remained silent, those who accepted our killing, and those who held our breath and whose hearts were not moved by the remains of our children and women, nor did they stop the massacre our people have been subjected to for more than a year and a half,” he said.
Conclusion
Having examined the evidence, Anas al-Sharif was both a terrorist and a reporter. A press pass doesn’t give a free pass! But was Israel wise in eliminating him? The question is not whether Israel was justified to get him but whether this was a wise move. As the battle grounds stretch way out of the parameters of the Gaza Strip, such an operation will have far reaching consequences!
Rohan Gunaratna is editor of the Handbook of Terrorism in the Middle East.