Sentro Condemns Killing of Al Jazeera Journalists in Gaza
Labor coalition Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) strongly condemned the killing of five Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza, calling it a deliberate attack by Israeli forces aimed at silencing those reporting on the Palestinian crisis. The group emphasized that the targeting of media workers is part of a broader pattern of violence since the conflict intensified last year.
“The SENTRO strongly condemns Israel’s deliberate killings of five Al Jazeera journalists on August 10—a blatant act of war on truth and a calculated attempt to silence anyone who dares to expose the ongoing genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinian people,” community members said in a statement.
Details of the Deadly Strike
The airstrike took the lives of veteran correspondent Anas al-Sharif, cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, Moamen Aliwa, and journalist Mohammed Qreiqeh. They were sheltering near al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City when the attack occurred, according to local sources.
Israel’s military alleged that al-Sharif was linked to Hamas, but has yet to present credible evidence. This claim was dismissed by press freedom advocates and those close to the journalists as an unfounded attempt to justify the killings.
Widespread Targeting of Journalists
SENTRO highlighted that since October 7, 2023, at least 237 journalists have been systematically targeted and killed amid the conflict. “Among those killed was Anas al-Sharif, falsely accused by Israel of being a ‘Hamas cell leader’ under the guise of a journalist—an unfounded smear meant to justify his execution. An accusation that has no credible evidence,” officials reported.
The labor coalition stressed that such false accusations are designed to delegitimize the courageous work of journalists exposing atrocities. “It is clear that Israel is willing to weaponize false accusations to justify its war on the press,” they added.
Al-Sharif had been covering Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, including incursions and the worsening humanitarian crisis marked by starvation, disease, and famine affecting civilians and reporters alike.
Protecting Truth-Tellers Amid War
“Before he was killed, al-Sharif fearlessly covered Israel’s escalating incursions and relentless bombardment of Gaza, as well as the deliberate starvation faced by its people, including journalists,” local leaders noted.
Sentro underscored the critical role of journalists in ensuring that crimes committed by powerful forces—such as the ongoing genocidal acts—are not erased from history. “We must protect our journalists and our truth-tellers,” the group stressed.
Call for Philippine Government Action
The labor coalition urged the Philippine government to take a firm stance on these killings. “SENTRO calls on the Philippine government to unequivocally condemn Israel’s atrocities, demand an immediate end to the genocide, and denounce the targeted killings of journalists,” sources said.
They further appealed for accountability by mobilizing diplomatic and economic pressure and standing in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
International Reactions to Journalist Deaths
Al Jazeera condemned the strike as a desperate attempt to silence voices and emphasized that targeting journalists violates international humanitarian law. Press freedom groups and the United Nations have also expressed grave concern over the rising death toll among media workers in Gaza, warning that these attacks may constitute war crimes.
According to independent organizations monitoring press safety, the Gaza conflict is now the deadliest war for journalists since records began in 1992. The deaths of al-Sharif and his colleagues bring the total to over 200 journalists killed since October 2023, including both local and foreign correspondents.
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