'Do not forget Gaza': Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al Sharif leaves final message to world

When Al Jazeera’s Anas Jamal Al Sharif stepped into Gaza’s streets with a camera and microphone, he was not just reporting the news — he was documenting the life and death of his people in real time, often under fire. On Sunday (August 10), that mission came to an end when an Israeli airstrike killed him in Gaza City.

The 28-year-old was among four Al Jazeera journalists and an assistant who died when a strike hit a tent near Shifa Hospital in eastern Gaza City, according to Gaza officials and the network. Two other people were also reported dead.

Israel's military claimed Al Sharif was a Hamas cell leader, but rights advocates said Israel provided no evidence. Rights advocates, fellow journalists, and press freedom groups said he was targetted for his relentless frontline reporting, which made the war’s devastation widely seen and deeply felt around the world.

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Fully aware of the dangers that came with his work, Al Sharif had prepared a final message — which he described as his 'final will' — to be published in the event of his death: a deeply personal and defiant message addressed to his family, his people, and the wider world.

In his final message, which appeared on his social media after the airstrike, he said: "If these words reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice. First, peace be upon you and Allah’s mercy and blessings."

"Allah knows I gave every effort and all my strength to be a support and a voice for my people, ever since I opened my eyes to life in the alleys and streets of the Jabalia refugee camp," he wrote.

'My hope was that Allah would extend my life'

In his will, Al Sharif expressed his lifelong hope of returning with his family to his original hometown of occupied Asqalan (Al-Majdal), a dream he said had been cut short by God’s will.

"I have lived through pain in all its details, tasted suffering and loss many times, yet I never once hesitated to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or falsification — so that Allah may bear witness against those who stayed silent, those who accepted our killing, those who choked our breath, and whose hearts were unmoved by the scattered remains of our children and women," he added.

In the statement, he entrusted Palestine itself to the conscience of the world, urging people “not to let chains silence you, nor borders restrain you” in the struggle for liberation. He also left intimate appeals for the care of his loved ones — his wife Bayan, their young daughter Sham, their son Salah, and his mother, whose prayers he called his “fortress.”

His final words — “Do not forget Gaza, and do not forget me in your sincere prayers” — have since been shared widely, resonating far beyond the strip’s borders.

The post closed with: “This is what our beloved Anas requested to be published upon his martyrdom.”

Check out his full message below:

This is my will and my final message. If these words reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice. First, peace be upon you and Allah’s mercy and blessings.

Allah knows I gave every effort and all my strength to be a support and a voice for my…

— أنس الشريف Anas Al-Sharif (@AnasAlSharif0) August 10, 2025

Tributes pouring

His final message, which was also posted on Instagram, drew tributes from colleagues, friends, and strangers.

Dr Omar Suleiman expressed deep grief and solidarity over the death of journalist Anas Al-Sharif, sharing the latter’s final message.

“I’ve typed and deleted so many words to try to describe the pain, anger, and guilt. Just read his,” the American Islamic scholar and civil rights activist wrote, adding: “We will miss you Anas. We bear witness to your sacrifice and against your murderer. May Allah have mercy on you and reunite you with all the pure souls before you.”

Journalists killed in Israeli strikes

Al Shariff's death adds to the growing list of Al Jazeera journalists who have died in Israeli strikes. In July 2024, Al Jazeera Arabic journalist Ismail al-Ghoul and his cameraman Rami al-Rifi were killed when an Israeli air attack struck their car in the Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City, according to initial reports.

In December 2023, Al Jazeera Arabic journalist Samer Abudaqa was killed and his colleague, veteran correspondent Wael Dahdouh, was wounded in an Israeli attack in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. The pair had been reporting from Farhana school when they were hit by an Israeli strike.

In May 2022, veteran correspondent Shireen Abu Akleh was shot dead while covering an Israeli military raid in the West Bank city of Jenin — her death prompting global outrage and calls for accountability.

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