UK Thinktank Fellow Advocates Israel Target Al Jazeera Journalists, Eroding Protections for the Press

August 28, 2025 – Palestine/UK – 

A disturbing development has emerged from the UK: Andrew Fox, a research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society (HJS) and retired British Army major, publicly suggested that Israel should target more journalists, particularly those associated with Al Jazeera. In a social media post following the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Anas al‑Sharif, Fox provocatively asked:

“When does a journalist become a legitimate military target? Maybe not often enough.”

Fox went further, asserting that “information warriors” could be seen as participants in hostilities—a broad interpretation that risks dissolving one of the core protections guaranteed under international humanitarian law: the civilian status of journalists.

His remarks drew swift rebuke. Critics highlight that intentionally framing journalists, even those in conflict zones, as valid military targets is not only misguided but potentially unlawful. International law explicitly safeguards non-combatants such as members of the press, recognizing their crucial role in documenting and communicating the realities of war.

Middle East Eye further reported that Fox didn’t limit his comments to field reporters but extended them to media infrastructure, suggesting that Al Jazeera facilities worldwide could also be deemed fair game.

This rhetoric is dangerously in line with a broader pattern: Israeli authorities and others have repeatedly labeled journalists, particularly Palestinians or those reporting from Gaza, as terrorists or Hamas operatives. Such allegations, made without credible evidence, have been used to justify attacks or even killings. Fox’s statements reinforce this troubling trend, potentially normalizing violence against the press.

The implications are grave. Encouraging the targeting of journalists signals a profound erosion of press freedoms and the rule of law in conflict zones. Fox’s words risk lending intellectual cover to acts that international watchdogs regard as war crimes.

Reference – 

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/prominent-uk-commentator-andrew-fox-suggests-israel-should-kill-al-jazeera-journalists

UK Thinktank Fellow Suggests Israel Should Target More Journalists