Israel Calls for Manhunt of Journalists and Press in Gaza

Israel Defense Forces claims it has 'numerous documents' connecting six Al Jazeera journalists to terrorism.

Photo of the funeral ceremony held for Palestinian journalists Saeed Al-Taweel and Mohammad Sobh, who were killed in Israeli airstrikes. (Photo by Ashraf Amra/Anadolu via Getty Images / Edited by Ameer Al-Khatahtbeh)

In its latest attempt to falsify the truth, Israel Defense Forces claims it found documents in the Gaza Strip that expose six Al Jazeera journalists as “Hamas and Islamic Jihad Terrorists.” 

The allegations were posted to X on Wednesday, with photos of the accused journalists: Anas al-Sharif, Alaa Salameh, Hossam Shabat, Ashraf al-Sarraj, Ismail Abu Omar and Talal al-Arrouqi.

“EXPOSED: 6 Al Jazeera journalists have been exposed as Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists,” the IDF said. “The IDF has disclosed intelligence information and numerous documents found in Gaza confirming military affiliation of six Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza with Hamas and the Islamic Jihad terrorist organizations, including personnel tables, lists of terrorist training courses, phone directories, and salary documents for terrorists.”

“These documents serve as proof of the integration of Hamas terrorists within the Qatari Al Jazeera media network,” the IDF continued in its post. “Most of the journalists that the IDF has exposed as operatives in Hamas’ military wing spearhead the propaganda for Hamas at Al Jazeera, especially in northern Gaza.”

The IDF did not elaborate on what influence the accused may have wielded, or what their roles allegedly were.

As of this report Al Jazeera has not commented on the allegations of this specific post. It has denied several other allegations and accusations of its journalists being associated with terrorist groups or with the Qatari news network. 

Wednesday’s accusations also follow several recent reports indicating the targeted killing of journalists by IDF officials.

Related: EXCLUSIVE: Interview With Motaz Azaiza, Photojournalist From Gaza

Just in this month, two journalists were killed and three others were injured in Gaza, increasing global calls for journalists to be protected.

All five journalists were witnessed wearing jackets with the words “PRESS” written across them. Mohamed al-Tanani, a cameraman for Al-Aqsa TV, was killed when the Israeli military launched an attack on a refugee camp.  His colleague Tamer Labad was severely injured. Fadi al-Wahidi, a cameraman for Al Jazeera Arabic, was shot in the neck and is now permanently paralyzed from his injuries.

According to the CPJ, at least 128 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023 – but the number is found to be much higher now, with estimates of over 175 journalists killed. Regardless on the actual count, this marks the highest number of journalists killed while reporting since the agency began tracking fatalities in conflict reporting in 1992. 

1 in 10 journalists in Gaza or at least 175 had been killed by the Israeli military. The number is expected to be higher due to those missing and unconfirmed dead.

Sign @Muslim’s petition to urge the U.S. to protect journalists and press in Gaza.