Israel has revealed that slain Gaza journalist Anas al-Sharif — celebrated by international media and awarded journalism’s highest honors — was in fact a Hamas terrorist commander.
HonestReporting details how Reuters, his former employer, acknowledged his Pulitzer Prize but dismissed the IDF’s evidence, even as it quietly confirmed that al-Sharif had been part of its 2024 prize-winning team covering the Israel-Hamas war.
The Evidence No One Wants to Show
The IDF presented an internal Hamas document naming al-Sharif as a soldier and team commander in a rocket platoon, plus a photo of him embraced by former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar — mastermind of the October 7 massacre.
Most major outlets ignored these documents. Reuters went further, opening its obituary with:
“Al Jazeera says he was one of Gaza’s bravest journalists.”
Only later did they reference Israel’s evidence, framed as “baseless accusations.”
A Pulitzer as Cover for Terrorism
HonestReporting notes:
“Almost the entire Reuters Gaza team that won the 2024 Pulitzer Prize… has now been compromised.”
With al-Sharif’s exposure, four of the five winning team members have been linked to Hamas:
Anas al-Sharif — Hamas rocket commander.
Yasser Qudih — infiltrated Israel on October 7 alongside Hamas gunmen.
Ibraheem Abu Mustafa — honored by Hamas for international award wins.
Mohammed Salem — received an award from top Hamas leaders in 2017.
Rather than prompting scrutiny, these revelations are met with accusations that critics are attacking press freedom.
The Danger for Truth and the Public
When press credentials and Pulitzer prestige are used to shield terrorists, journalism stops serving the public and starts serving propaganda.
As HonestReporting warns:
“When one of the world’s largest news agencies sneaks in a paragraph about a Pulitzer win as some sort of refutation of hard evidence — it does exactly what Hamas wants. It uses journalism as a shield, and by doing so, it literally aids terrorism.”
A Call for Accountability
For Modern-Day Esthers, the lesson is clear: truth matters, and it must be defended even when the world prefers a comforting lie. Awards and press vests cannot be allowed to hide those who target civilians while hiding behind the word “journalist.”
This is not about silencing the press — it’s about refusing to let terror exploit the press.
Lord, give us courage to stand for truth in an age of deception. Protect those who risk their lives to report with integrity, and expose those who wear the mantle of journalism to mask evil.
Read the full HonestReporting article ➜ Gaza Journalist Identified as Hamas Terrorist Won a Pulitzer; Reuters Can’t See the Problem
