Jerusalem: The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) announced on Monday that a military operation in Gaza resulted in the death of Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif. The IDF accused him of being the leader of a Hamas terrorist cell, asserting that a press credential does not provide immunity against terrorism.

Al-Sharif lost his life alongside four other journalists: Ibrahim Zaher, Moamen Aliwa, and Mohammed Noufal.

According to the military's statement, Al-Sharif was involved in orchestrating rocket attacks targeting Israeli civilians and IDF personnel. They claimed to possess intelligence and documents from Gaza, including rosters and training records, that allegedly link him to Hamas.

The IDF emphasized that materials previously seized in Gaza confirmed Al-Sharif's military ties to Hamas, which they stated Al Jazeera attempted to deny.

The military's assertion included claims that the documents contained personnel lists, training course directories, and salary records, which they argue demonstrate his role as a Hamas operative within the Gaza Strip.

Israeli officials also indicated that these documents illustrated Al-Sharif's connection to the Qatari media outlet Al Jazeera.

Prior to the airstrike, the IDF stated that precautions were taken to reduce civilian harm, employing precision weaponry, aerial surveillance, and thorough intelligence evaluations.

In the moments leading up to his death, Al-Sharif was active on social media, sharing updates about Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.

Following the announcement of his death, a message was posted from his account, which read: "If these words reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice."