Gaza Becomes the Deadliest Place for Journalists in Modern History
September 11, 2024
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September 11, 2024 – Palestine/Israel –
Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif has become one of the most enduring voices reporting from northern Gaza, where he has remained throughout the relentless Israeli bombardment. Despite losing colleagues, enduring the death of his father in a strike, and facing direct threats from the Israeli military, al-Sharif continues to document the devastation with a clarity and urgency that has made him a symbol of press resistance under fire.
A native of Jabalia refugee camp, al-Sharif holds a journalism degree from Al-Aqsa University. Since the war began in October 2023, he chose to stay in Gaza while others fled, delivering daily updates from one of the world’s deadliest zones for journalists. He has received multiple death threats, including calls and messages from Israeli officers warning him to leave or risk being targeted. Shortly after these threats, his 90-year-old father was killed in a strike on their home. Still, al-Sharif continued his work, refusing to be silenced.
His coverage has not only exposed the horrors endured by civilians but also highlighted the targeting of media workers. Al-Sharif personally reported on the deaths of fellow journalists such as Ismail al-Ghoul, Rami al-Refee, and Hossam Shabat, who were killed while reporting. His footage often includes powerful scenes from funerals, destroyed press offices, and the last broadcasts of slain colleagues.
As of mid-2025, over 170 journalists have been killed in Gaza, making it the deadliest region for media workers in the world. Many have lost their families, homes, and colleagues in targeted strikes. Al-Sharif’s persistence in documenting these losses despite the risks has turned him into one of the most recognized media figures across the Arab world.
Through his reporting, al-Sharif underscores not only the human cost of the war but the critical importance of journalism in times of crisis. His continued presence on the ground serves as both testimony and resistance—proof that even amid the rubble, the truth can still be recorded. His story calls on the international community to protect journalists and demand accountability for the systematic targeting of the press in Gaza.
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