The president of the Foreign Press Association, Ian Williams, stated in a CNN interview that he does not care whether Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al-Sharif was affiliated with Hamas, following Al-Sharif's death in an Israeli strike. Williams compared Hamas to mainstream political parties in the United States and United Kingdom, arguing that it is unacceptable to kill people based on political affiliations. He dismissed Israeli claims that Al-Sharif led a Hamas cell, expressing skepticism about the Israeli government's statements and emphasizing Al-Sharif's journalistic work. Williams did not address messages and photos posted by Al-Sharif that praised the Hamas attacks and showed support for the group. The incident has sparked reactions from major media outlets, many of which have focused on condemning the strike and downplaying Al-Sharif's ties to Hamas.