Mainstream media outlets have mourned the death of Anas Al-Sharif, a prominent Al Jazeera journalist killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza. However, declassified Israeli intelligence documents identify Al-Sharif as a leader in a Hamas rocket-launching squad and a member of the commando unit responsible for the October 7 massacre. Months before his death, Al-Sharif publicly praised the attack and posted images glorifying violence against Israelis, raising questions about his dual role as both journalist and militant.

Al-Sharif's case highlights the complex and often controversial overlap between media figures and militant groups in Gaza. Several other Al Jazeera-affiliated journalists have also been named in intelligence reports as members of Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The situation has fueled ongoing debates about journalistic integrity, propaganda, and the risks faced by reporters in conflict zones, especially in areas tightly controlled by militant organizations.