From Journalists, To Journalists: Stop Helping Israel Cover Up The Killing Of Our Colleagues

On Aug. 10, 2025, Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif was assassinated in Gaza by the Israeli military.

The Israeli military had been threatening him in public for over a year. They smeared him after he cried on air reporting on famine. They claimed to have “evidence” that no one has ever independently verified. And then they killed him along with four other journalists in a strike on a tent clearly marked for the press.

We all saw it coming. The Committee to Protect Journalists warned weeks ago that Israel’s smear campaign was a precursor to his assassination. Journalists in Gaza feared his name would be next. And when it happened, too many newsrooms still led their headlines with Israel’s lie.

This is not a tragedy in "the fog of war"

It is a deliberate strategy:

1. Threaten the journalist.
2. Smear them as a militant.
3. Kill them.
4. Feed the smear to the international press, which repeats it uncritically.

More than 184 Palestinian journalists have been killed since Oct. 7, 2023. Many were targeted after the same sequence of public threats and unverified allegations.

The media’s hands are dirty

When Reuters runs “Israel kills Al Jazeera journalist it says was Hamas leader” as a headline, it is laundering the smear.

When The New York Times details Israel’s “documents” before mentioning they are unverified, it is giving propaganda more weight than fact.

When CNN quotes “unequivocal proof” and “many documents” without a single line about the lack of verification, it is doing the work of the military that just killed the journalist.

This is not “balance.” It is collaboration.

Press freedom statements have been pathetic

We’ve seen leaders of the profession respond with phrases like “saddened and deeply troubled” and calls for “all parties” to protect journalists.

This is the language of people who want to look concerned without naming the killer. It is PR for impunity.

Our demands

We demand that all publishers, newsrooms, editors, and press freedom organisations covering Israel–Palestine commit to:

• Stop amplifying unverified state claims. Do not publish or headline unverified allegations from any party to the conflict, especially the Israeli military, without clear labeling and immediate context on the source’s record of false or misleading statements.
• Lead with truth, not state framing. Headlines, ledes, and social media posts must prioritise verifiable facts and context over military or government narratives.
• Name power and responsibility. Avoid “both sides” language that obscures power asymmetry. When it is clear who carried out an action, name them.
• Embed context as a standard. Coverage must consistently include the structural realities: genocide, occupation, blockade, apartheid, and the humanitarian impacts, not just event-by-event updates.
• Publish your editorial policies on Israel–Palestine. Make sourcing, verification, and style guide rules public so audiences can hold you accountable.
• Correct the record publicly. When a claim you have published is debunked, remains unverified, or is changed after public criticism, update stories and headlines prominently and add an editor’s note explaining why it was changed. Acknowledge the harm caused by the initial publication, whether that harm is to the public’s understanding, to the reputation of those falsely accused, or to the integrity of the outlet. Quiet edits are not accountability; they are cover-ups.

This is not just about Anas. His killing is the clearest, latest proof of a broken system, one in which Palestinian lives and voices are routinely devalued, misrepresented, or erased in global mainstream media. It is the same system that has normalised a military occupation for decades, softened the language of apartheid, and buried the reality of siege and famine under euphemism and “both sides” framing.

The way the world understands Israel–Palestine is shaped by the stories that are told and the ones that are silenced. Every time unverified military claims are repeated without scrutiny, every time context is stripped away, every time power is left unnamed, the press becomes a participant in oppression rather than a check on it.

Our colleagues warned in 2021 that this industry’s coverage of Palestine was failing its own standards. In 2025, the cost of that failure is measured in tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths, the targeting of journalists, and a global public left misinformed about the reality on the ground.

This must end. Not with another vague statement. Not with another “tragic loss.” But with a radical change in how this story is told, because without that, the next killing will already have been written.

If you’re a current or former journalist and would like to sign this letter, please fill out the form below.

Signed,

Kassy Cho – Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Almost

Sanne Breimer – Media Strategist & Founder of Inclusive Journalism

And our colleagues in journalism worldwide:

Signature count: 215

Khadija Adda-rezig – Journalist, Freelance

Nadia ADDEZIO – Journalist, Freelance

Meha Ahmad – Radio Producer, WBEZ

Mashiyat Ahmed – Journalist, Freelance

Rijad Ahmetović – Journalist & News Anchor, Radiotelevizija Federacije Bosne i Hercegovine

Ahmed Akbar – Food & Culture Writer, Freelance

Geertje Algera – Journalist & Trainer, Freelance

Ankita Anand – Independent Journalist, Freelance

Eyman Anwar – Reporter, Freelance

Jaled Abdelrahim Aranda – Senior Producer, AJ+ Español

Devi Asmarani – Editor-in-Chief, Magdalene.co

Shaista Aziz – Journalist, Freelance

Polina Bachlakova – Journalist, Freelance

Jessica Bateman – Journalist, Freelance

Jesse Beentjes – Journalist & Media Strategist, Independent

Wulan Bekker – Journalist, BNNVARA

Alessandra Bergamin – Journalist, Freelance

Emma van Bergeijk – Reporter, NU

Robert Beveridge – Professor/Retired, University of Sassari

Tanmoy Bhaduri – Multimedia Journalist, Independent

Bibek Bhandari – Journalist, Independent

Puja Bhattacharjee – Journalist, Independent

Jaap Van den Biesen – Video Journalist, Freelance

Angelo Boccato – Journalist, Freelance

Arnoud Bodde – Journalist, Freelance

Laila Broja – Journalist, Freelance

Sedat Bugdaci – Broadcast, Independent

Haris Buljubasic – Producer, Freelance

Manuela Callari – Independent Journalist, Freelance

Camillo Cantarano – Reporter, Independent

Khalil Cassimally – Media Consultant, Independent

Rubina Čengić – Journalist, Freelance

Sofia Cerqueira – Head of Content Strategy, Euromoney

Joy Chang – Video Journalist, BBC

Yoyo Chang – Intern Journalist, Almost

Sudeshna Chanda – Writer, Product Thinker, Freelance

Ahlam Chehabi – Writer, Independent

Alicia Chen – Journalist & Filmmaker, Independent

Flavie Chen – Editorial & Partnerships Strategist, Almost

Kang-Chun Cheng – Photojournalist, Independent

Annabelle Chih – Photojournalist, Freelance

Jennifer Chowdhury – Founder & Journalist, Port of Entry

Nithin Coca, Journalist, Freelance

Jem Collins – Director, Journo Resources

Rafaela Cortez – Journalist, Fumaça

Camille Padilla Dalmau – Founder & Journalist, 9 Millones

Amelie David – Journalist, Independent

Helen Davidson – Correspondent, Guardian

Ann Deslandes – Journalist, Independent

Lorenzo Di Stasi – Journalist, Independent

Hera Diani – Co-Founder, Magdalene.co

Anna Dijk – Journalist, De Gelderlander

Awarjitha Edirisooriya – Freelance Journalist & Independent Researcher

Farah Eltohamy – Investigative Reporter, Cascade PBS

Wael Eskandar – Journalist, Independent

Nadine Essmat – Photojournalist, Independent

Mohamed Fairooz – Editor, Vidivelli

Katherine Fan – Journalist, Business Insider

Sabrina Faramarzi – Managing Director, Are We Europe

Aida Fazlic – Journaliat, Freelance

Oana Filip – Reporter, Scena9

Andrew Fisher – Writer & Columnist, Freelance

Lisa Fishman – Author & Advocate, Freelance

Terrence Fraser – Investigative Data Journalist & Documentary Producer, Freelance

Gabriela Galindo – Reporter, Freelance

Matthew Caruana Galizia – Director, The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation

Alka Anna Goos – Journalist & Design Researcher, Fontys Journalistiek

Karlijn Goossen – Genrecoordinator Journalist, 360 NPO

Anne Grefkens – Journalist, Univers Magazine

Ummahan Gül – Journalist, Freelance

Coco Gubbels – Founder, Project Management in Investigative Journalism

Demi Guo – Journalist, Freelance

Neha Gupta – Movement Communicator & Former Journalist, Independent

Erin Hale – Journalist, Freelance

Salima Hamirani – Journalist & Producer, Freelance

Sarah Hannan – Retired Journalist, Independent

Misan Harriman – Photographer, Freelance

Suyin Haynes – Journalist, Freelance

Sharina Henriquez – Journalist, Independent

Brian Hioe – Founder & Editor-in-Chief, New Bloom

Samantha Ho – Regional Correspondent, Eco-Business

Vicky Ho – Reporter & Producer, Almost

Sofia Hou – Executive Producer, Almost

Irene Hollebrandse –  Freelance Investigative Journalist, Freelance

Wendy Hsiao – Producer & Journalist, Almost

Rummana Hussain – Columnist/Opinion Pages Editor, Chicago Sun-Times

Dan Ignacio – Digital Editor, Outlier Media

Jeffrey Ingold – Journalist, Freelance

Zena Issa – Reporter, NOR

Isha Jain – Reporter & Producer, Freelance

Wilberry Jakobs – Video Journalist, Independent

Paul Jeursen – Journalist, Freelance

Nishita Jha – Media Creator, Freelance

MJ Johnson – Video Journalist, Freelance

Vandana K – Journalist, Freelance

Divya Karthikeyan – Freelancer, Freelance

Samira Kawar – Retired Journalist, Former Middle East Editor at Argus Medua

Anisa Khalifa – Producer & Host, WUNC

Aina J Khan – Freelance Journalist, AJ+

Ryan Ho Kilpatrick – Journalist, Freelance

Maria Klenner – Photographer, Independent

Tessa Klooster – Scriptwriter, Klooster Tekst

Nish Kohli – Reporter, The Providence Journal

Kolina Koltai – Journalist, Bellingcat

Gergana Krasteva – Foreign Correspondent, Metro

Madhu Krishnamurthy – Editor, Daily Herald

Priya Kulasagaran – Writer, Freelance

Marcela Kunova – Managing Director, Journalism.co.uk

Sonny Inbaraj Krishnan – News Editor, Cambodianess

Anders Lammers – Editor, Videnskab.dk

Ashley Lee – Reporter, Almost

Lie Kuan Lee – Columnist, Freelance

Tina Lee – Editor, Unbias the News

Kris Lih – Reporter, Domino Theory

Junye Lin – Chinese Editor, Almost

Sharon Lin – Podcast Producer & Host, Freelance

Jessica Lionnel – Journalist, Freelance

Emily Liu – Podcast Producer, The Business Times

Pei Ying Loh – Head & Co-Founder, Kontinentalist

Mark Lomas – Editor & Journalist, Freelance

Vittorio Longhi – Director, Carta di Roma

Gino Lopez – Journalist, Freelance

Kathy Lu – Media Consultant, Independent

Hannah Lund – Editor, Freelance

Anisa Mahmutovic – Journalist, Interview.ba

Amir Behnam Masoumi – Journalist, Freelance

Lejla Mazlic – Journalist, Al Jazeera Balkans

Micah McCartney – Reporter, Newsweek

Devon McCole – Journalist & Editor, Greater Govanhill CIC

Milkica Milojevic – Journalist, Impuls/Ringier

Eliz Mizon – Journalism Co-ordinator & Campaigner, Freelance

Cherry Mohamed – Senior Reporter & Producer, Almost

Megha Mohan – Journalist, BBC

Cosette Molijn – Journalist, Freelance

Alba Mora – Executive Producer, AJ+

Joe Muggs – Culture Journalist, Freelance

Onesy Muller – Radio Presenter, Podcaster and Columnist, Bonte Was Podcast

Shafi Musaddique – Journalist, Freelance

Analie Gepulani Neiteler – Digital Editor & Producer, Freelance

Naj O – Journalist, Freelance

Yan Naung Oak – Founder, Thibi

Davor Obrdalj – Journalist, Freelance/ex Al Jazeera Balkans

Ade Onibada – News Reporter and Producer, Freelance

François Nel – Associate Professor of Media Innovation and Entrepreneurship, University of Lancashire

Laura Oliver – Journalist, Freelance

Sophie van Oostvoorn – Journalism & Editorial Strategy Consultant, Freelance

Siddhant P – Science Journalist, Freelance

Zoë Papaikonomou – Investigative Journalist, Freelance

Gayatri Parameswaran – Journalist & Documentary Filmmaker, Nowhere Media

Ioana Pelehatăi – Editor, Scena9

Juliana da Penha – Founding Editor & Director, Migrant Women Press

Dejan Petrović – Journalist, Radio and television of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Kendra Pierre-Louis – Journalist, Independent

Claudia Pincovski – Journalist, The Paypers

Jelena Prtoric – Journalist, Freelance/Arena for Journalism in Europe

Akhlis Purnomo – Private, Freelance

Gabriela Ramirez – Editor, Unbias the News

Ricardo Esteves Ribeiro – Journalist, Fumaça

AnaDominik Rodić – Independent Investigative/Research Journalist, BiRN and Društvo Novinara BiH, IFJ

Ángela Rodríguez – Journalist & Communications Specialist, Independent

Cindy Rombout – Journalist & Business Owner, Independent

Ruby Russell – Senior Editor, Unbias the News

Nabilah Said – Editor, Kontinentalist

Pari Saikia – Journalist, Independent

Reema Saleh – Journalist, Freelance

Javeria Salman – National Reporter, Freelance

Margaux Seigneur – Reporter, Independent

Mili Semlani – Community Manager, Independent

Jaff Sham – Journalist, whathappenedlastweek.com

Ed SMAJIĆ – Research & Training Manager, Al Jazeera Balkans

Emma Smith – Journalist, Freelance

Gary Spinks – Copywriter & Storyteller & Journalist, Independent

Joshua Stein – Reporter, Freelance

Ioan Stoleru – Reporter, Scena9

Nancy Stuermer – Copy Editor, Contractor

Swati Tarafdar – Journalism Mentor, Independent

Miriam Tepes-Handaric – Journalist, Freelance

Meenal Thakur – Journalism Trainer and Program Manager, Transitions

Sydnee Thompson – Copy Editor, Freelance

Edison Tseng – Journalist, Freelance

Samra Tufek – Journalist, National TV

Sofia Turati – Journalist, Freelance / Marea Media

Zahra Salah Uddin – Journalist, Independent

Anna Violato – Environmental Journalist, Independent

Dirk-Jan Visser – Photographer, Freelance

Fara Warner – Executive Director, Metcalf Institute at University of Rhode Island

Mia Warren – Managing Director, Feet in 2 Worlds

Aaricka Washington – Journalist, Freelance

Amy Westervelt – Executive Editor, Drilled

Juanita Williams – Editor, allAfrica.com

Geo Vallejo – Video Editor, AJ+ Español

Laurens Vreekamp – Founder, Future Journalism Today

Lela Vujanic – Researcher & Journalist, Independent

Luna van der Waarde – Journalist & Producer, Independent

Nick Wray – News Video Producer, Independent

Cici Xiao – Chinese Reporter, Almost

Jessica Zoghary – Broadcast Journalist, Omroep HUMAN

+16 signatories withheld for safety reasons