The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) revealed on Wednesday that documents found in the Gaza Strip link six Al Jazeera journalists to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, both designated as terrorist organisations by Israel. The IDF identified the journalists as Anas al-Sharif, Alaa Salameh, Hossam Shabat, Ashraf al-Sarraj, Ismail Abu Omar, and Talal al-Arrouqi.
According to the IDF, these individuals held significant positions in the military wings of these groups. Al-Sharif was allegedly the head of a rocket-launching squad in Hamas’s Nuseirat Battalion, while Salameh was said to be the deputy head of propaganda in the Shaboura Battalion. Shabat was described as a sniper, and al-Sarraj was a member of Islamic Jihad's Bureij Battalion. Abu Omar and al-Arrouqi were also identified as commanders in Hamas’s military structure.
The documents, which reportedly include personnel spreadsheets, training lists, and salary records, are claimed by the IDF as "unequivocal proof" of the journalists' roles within the terror groups.
“These documents are proof of the involvement of Hamas terrorists in the Qatari media network, Al Jazeera,” the IDF stated, accusing the named individuals of promoting Hamas propaganda through their media coverage in northern Gaza.
Al Jazeera responded strongly, rejecting the accusations as "fabricated" and part of a broader attempt to undermine its reporting on the Gaza conflict. The network emphasised that its journalists are fulfilling their duty to cover the war and shed light on its devastating impact on civilians.
In their statement, Al Jazeera condemned the claims, accusing the IDF of trying to silence the few remaining journalists in the region and deflect attention from reports of alleged Israeli war crimes. The Qatari news outlet also highlighted previous incidents where their reporters were killed or injured during Israeli airstrikes, emphasising their ongoing commitment to covering the conflict.
This controversy comes amid ongoing tension between Israel and Al Jazeera, with the network frequently accused by Israeli authorities of bias in its coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict.
