Amid the brutal and bloody aggression on the Gaza Strip, the name of colleague journalist Anas Al-Sharif, the brave correspondent for Al Jazeera network, stood out as he alone formed a humanitarian roadmap. He did not bow to the roar of planes, the buzzing of tanks, and the sounds of artillery that claimed the lives of more than 60,000 martyrs, including his father, family members, and colleagues.

Anas Al-Sharif did not yield or retreat from conveying the truth despite all the threats he faced, indicating the courage of Palestinian journalists in general and his strength and resilience. He always resisted his deep sorrow over losing a colleague or friend and quickly returned to report the truth as it is, believing he carried the cause of a stolen people and homeland, continuing to raise the flag of their struggle high, proud like the steadfast mountains.

According to many colleagues, Al-Sharif left a positive and unforgettable impact on Palestinian memory through his vitality and agility in conveying information. The profound and unprecedented sorrow of the Palestinian people over his death is a testament to the young journalist’s excellence, who always exerted great effort to convey the voice and message of the Palestinian people to the world, even in the darkest circumstances.

Tears of mourners welled up, digital platforms were shrouded in deep black mourning and panic over the loss of Anas Al-Sharif, who conveyed the Palestinian message with a loud and audible voice, unveiling the miserable face of the occupation deeply immersed in Palestinian blood, which made him a target of the occupation’s criminal machinery.

With the martyrdom of Anas Al-Sharif and five other journalists and photographers—Mohammed Qariqa, Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Nofal, Moamen Aliwa, and Mohammed Al-Khalidi—questions arose in Gaza: Does the occupation intend to pave the way for more bloody massacres in Gaza away from the eyes? Is Gaza facing new crimes of killing, starvation, and displacement?

Since the Israeli entity announced its plan for a comprehensive invasion of the central and northern Gaza neighborhoods and the displacement of residents south towards Rafah, more than a million Palestinians live in anxious anticipation, fearing Gaza becoming a second Rafah. The targeting of journalists, especially Al Jazeera correspondents and photographers, has intensified fears of bloody massacres amid media blackout.

According to Israeli affairs researcher Adel Shadid, the targeting of journalists is not a new development in the war but a recurring tactic whenever the occupation wants to escalate the situation in Gaza. He explained, “The assassination of the six journalists in their tent clearly indicates the imminent commission of bloody Israeli massacres that the world is not meant to see or hear about.”

He added, “It is a preemptive step coinciding with Israeli threats to expand killing and displacement in central and northern Gaza. Although the Israeli military operation has not yet started, the entity has already begun preparations by targeting Al Jazeera’s crew.”

Most Gaza citizens fear that targeting journalists is a prelude to expanding the circle of fire, continuing to block humanitarian aid, and implementing plans to displace residents from their homes and neighborhoods.

The occupation does not see Al Jazeera journalists in Palestine as mere journalists but as Palestinians who must be killed. This was evident in Gaza and the West Bank with the martyrdom of more than 10 Al Jazeera staff, starting with Shireen Abu Akleh and ending with Anas Al-Sharif. According to Palestinian journalists, this indicates that occupation leaders fear Al Jazeera and want to silence its voice, but in vain.

Anas Al-Sharif survived bombing amid the war, while his father and family members were martyred under the rubble of his home. Mohammed Qariqa survived while his mother and relatives were martyred. Now death reunites them, as their martyrdom was postponed for several months, and the last missile came to draw the curtain on the professional life of Anas Al-Sharif and his colleagues, which was fraught with “troubles,” as if fate insisted on completing this painful story etched on Gaza’s sands amid the war of uprooting and cleansing.