Gaza marks anniversary of Al Jazeera journalists' deaths

Gaza City marked one year since an Israeli strike killed Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif and cameraman Mohammed Qraiqea alongside five other Palestinian journalists in central Gaza.

Mourners gathered at a makeshift memorial near the site of the October 2023 strike that also destroyed a media building, lighting candles and holding placards with the journalists’ faces. The vigil underscored the risks faced by reporters covering the war, where Israel has repeatedly targeted media facilities and killed at least 100 journalists since October 7, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Al-Sharif and Qraiqea were among dozens killed in a single day on October 7, 2023, when Israeli airstrikes hit the al-Mutala’ media building in Gaza City. Their deaths drew global condemnation and calls for independent probes, but Israel has not publicly acknowledged targeting the journalists or their workplace. Colleagues described both men as dedicated professionals who stayed in Gaza despite repeated threats, documenting the war’s civilian toll for international audiences.

The killings highlight Israel’s pattern of striking media infrastructure during conflicts, say press freedom groups. Gaza’s journalists now operate with limited equipment and under constant threat, with many outlets forced offline. A year on, colleagues vow to keep reporting despite the risks, insisting the work must continue to hold both sides accountable.