But the strike prompted international backlash, with the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) claiming that Israel provided “very little evidence” of al-Sharif’s guilt and that this approach was part of a “pattern” followed by Jerusalem.
Now, though, the IDF has released images of al-Sharif socialising with the late Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar to further back up its allegations.
The army also released images of al-Sharif at a gathering with Sinwar and his successor Khalil al-Hayya (in the navy shirt) as evidence of its claims that he was a terrorist (Image: X/@ AvichayAdraee)[Missing Credit]
One, posted online by the army’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Lieutenant General Avichay Adraee, showed the two men embracing in the street. And another showed Sinwar sitting alongside Khalil al-Hayya, who succeeded him as chair of Hamas’ Political Bureau, and another man as al-Sharif knelt in front of them and took a selfie. "Only a terrorist sits in the gatherings of terrorists,” claimed Adraee.
IDF international spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani added: "Prior to the strike, we obtained current intelligence indicating that Sharif was an active Hamas military wing operative at the time of his elimination.
"In addition, he received a salary from the Hamas terror group and terrorist supporters, Al-Jazeera, at the same time.
"What we have presented publicly is only a small, declassified portion of our intelligence on Al-Sharif leading up to the strike.
"For some reason, the media is ignoring information presented by us because Al-Sharif has said he is not a terrorist.
“'Trust me, I am not a terrorist' apparently works if you are against Israel."
Al Jazeera has strongly denied that al-Sharif was an active militant, labelling his death a “targeted assassination”.
Addressing his alleged presence on internal Hamas salary lists, the network claimed that he worked only as a media officer in the Hamas-run civilian administration in Gaza, but did not take part in terrorist activities.
A spokesperson for the channel said: “This attack comes amid the catastrophic consequences of the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza, which has seen the relentless slaughter of civilians, forced starvation, and the obliteration of entire communities.
“The order to assassinate Anas Al Sharif, one of Gaza’s bravest journalists, and his colleagues, is a desperate attempt to silence the voices exposing the impending seizure and occupation of Gaza.”
